Arbeloa: "We cannot allow such things to happen on a football pitch"

Álvaro Arbeloa appeared before the media in the press room of the Estadio da Luz after the match against Benfica, corresponding to the first leg of the Champions League playoff. Our coach referred to the racist incident against Vini Jr. that led to the suspension of the match: "Ask the Benfica player what he said to Vini Jr. Everyone in the football world deserves an answer to that question, and that is all I can say. Zero tolerance for racism has to be absolute for us, and we cannot allow such things to happen on a football pitch in 2026. What Vini Jr. told me he was called, I obviously believe him. I don't think he would make something like that up, and I will never doubt Vini Jr.'s words."

"I only asked him if he wanted to keep playing. We were by his side, and whatever decision he made, we were going to stand together. We must always support him and remain a team. I've always told them that we ride together and die together. When someone has this kind of attitude towards one of us, we always stand by them. We are a united team, and we will always fight together as we did today."

Did you consider leaving the field?
"The referee told me he didn't hear anything and can't do anything about these kinds of situations. Whatever decision Vini Jr. made, we are obviously by his side, and we cannot tolerate these types of attitudes or allow them to occur on a football pitch. Whatever Vini Jr. decided, we would stand by him."

Vini Jr.'s celebration after scoring
"I didn't see Vini Jr.'s celebration, but I did see the amazing goal. When Mourinho finds out what happened and what his player said, he will be the first not to allow it. Zero tolerance for this, and very pleased with the team's performance. All the players showed a very solid performance, and this is the Real Madrid we want to see."

How is Vini Jr.?
"The sad thing is that this is not the first time. He is not only a spectacular player but also a great person and a wonderful young man loved by everyone. Once you get to know him, it doesn't take long to realize what a good person he is and how often he has had to fight against situations like this. He has always been a fighter, and he will continue to be one. We will always be by his side."

Do you think that incident impacted the match?
"It was a very good first half, and we deserved to score more goals. Everything changed after this situation, but we still played well and tried to create chances. Obviously, they exposed themselves more, and at times, the game became more end-to-end and less controlled. It was a match where we clearly saw the Real Madrid we want, very solid and with a lot of effort and team mentality. I'm very happy with the difference compared to the match three weeks ago. We saw a completely different team, and this is the Real Madrid that all madridistas want to see."

Enjoy all the videos of this match on RM Play

"What concerned me most was seeing my team first and foremost. Since I arrived, surely the match we played here three weeks ago was the farthest from what we should be. Today, we showed what we should be, and that is what we have been emphasizing since I arrived. When you face an opponent, you have to know them and understand their strengths. Here at Benfica, three weeks ago, they hurt us a lot with transitions and set-pieces. It was a matter of not only defending more organized but also attacking with more organization, especially behind the ball. We did that, we finished many plays, and we pressed high. We saw a great team. There is still room for improvement, but this is the path we must follow."

The tie
"We cannot make the mistake of considering a team coached by Mourinho out of the game with a 0-1 scoreline. I don't know if anyone could do that, but it won't be me. He is already preparing for that match as soon as they entered the dressing rooms, and it's not a result to relax on. Benfica is not a team that will let us take our foot off the gas if we want to beat them. The Bernabéu will await Benfica, and our fans will be on our side, once again becoming a crucial factor. If we want to eliminate Benfica, we still have 90 minutes of very good football ahead, just like we played today."

Arda Güler
"He is a player with characteristics that help us a lot because he can link our midfield with Vini Jr. and Kylian. He also helps us in creation and is a special player, one of a kind. He has been very important to the team, and this growth benefits us immensely. We need to keep working on his confidence, and these types of matches help him grow as the young player he is. I'm super happy and super proud to have a guy like Arda and the work he is capable of doing."

 

Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.