Arbeloa: "Seven games remain, and we must win all seven"

Álvaro Arbeloa spoke to the media in the press room of Ciudad Real Madrid on the eve of the match against Alavés, corresponding to matchday 33 of La Liga, which will take place at the Bernabéu. Our coach analyzed the game: “The same need they have to win, we also have to win and play a good match. We are very eager to play in front of the Bernabéu and to show that desire and ambition to secure the three points. We are only focused on tomorrow's game. Seven games remain, and we must win all seven.”

“These seven games are more important than they might seem. They are crucial for us, and tomorrow we must demonstrate their significance for our team. I expect a Bernabéu full of family and proud of how their team played in Munich.”

Not winning titles
“The last time this happened was over twenty years ago, so Real Madrid is the club where things go right most of the time. There are seasons and moments where things don’t go as planned, but the mentality of this club is always to look to the future. At Real Madrid, losing is unacceptable, but even winning isn’t enough because there’s no justification for not looking forward to achieving new goals and titles. We know the demands of Real Madrid, and that’s what we must keep in mind. Seven games remain, we must win all seven, and once this season ends, we’ll think about the next one and everything we need to do to win again.”

His future
“I am a madridista, but I am the coach of Real Madrid. This is a decision that is not up to me. As I have told you many times, and you can ask as many questions as you like, my answer will always be the same: I am not worried about my future at all. I am focused on these seven games, especially the first one, which is tomorrow. That is the only thing on my mind and the only thing that matters for Real Madrid.” 

Communication with the club

“I’ll say exactly the same thing again. These are decisions that have more to do with the club’s management than with me. I’m in direct contact with the club every week and I’m lucky enough to have an excellent relationship with them. The only future that concerns me is tomorrow’s. Not just for me, but for the whole club.”

Room for improvement in La Liga in recent years

“It’s clear to many that we certainly have room for improvement in La Liga in recent years. We need to get a lot of things right. Over the past few months, we’ve performed much better in big games and against tougher opponents than when we’ve faced weaker sides. If I had to talk about these last three months, I think there’s plenty of room for improvement there, but we’ve also experienced situations like the one against Girona, which I believe make it easier for Real Madrid to win the Champions League than La Liga, and that says a lot.”  

Leaders in the squad

“We have leaders. It’s a very young squad when you compare it to the squads that have won the European Cup here, which had an average age of 28–29 when they played in the finals. Now, when we field our usual starting eleven, the average age is 23–24. It’s clear that it’s a very young squad; there are many players from whom we’re expecting far too much far too soon, but we do have some great leaders. I can name many: Carvajal, Alaba, Militão, Bellingham, Valverde, Vinicius and Mbappé. There are many players with considerable experience who have been at the club and in the world of football for many years; they have tremendous character. But we also have a great many young players who have only recently joined the club. This isn’t a club where it’s easy to settle in, but they’re working hard and I have a lot of confidence in them all.”

 

How are you feeling personally?

“I always appreciate your concern, but I’m always fine. I consider myself a person with a lot of strength, energy, enthusiasm and ambition. As long as I’m in this chair, I’ll stay that way. I’m not someone who usually stays at home; I’ve been able to go out onto the streets and I’ve felt the pride that Madrid fans have in the match the team played on Wednesday, in the effort, the sacrifice and how the players performed. The feeling on the street is that we were denied the chance to reach the semi-finals or to be in the running for a place in the semi-finals. That is what I have sensed, and that is how I feel too

 

Camavinga

“He’s gutted, as we all are. It was a decision that was clearly a serious mistake by the referee, because it’s obvious he didn’t know the player had a booking, and not knowing that strikes me as a very serious error. Without a booking, I think it’s a decision that, in a match like this, is going to affect a player. If you give a yellow card to a midfielder, it’s going to have a huge impact. These are mistakes that shouldn’t happen in a Champions League match. He’s hurt because he knows what Real Madrid is all about and how important he is to the club and the dressing room.”

 

‘He’s been here for many years, he’s won two European Cups and, at the age of 24, he’s also played in a World Cup and a European Championship. He’s a very important player and, in the short time I’ve been here, he’s played a lot and very well. He has not only my trust, but also that of the club and the affection of the fans, and I hope he can stay with us for many more years.’

Enjoy all the videos from this match on RM Play

 

Managing the dressing room

“I don’t feel that sense of camaraderie or friendship. I’ve had a good relationship, just as I’ve had with my players throughout my years as a manager. I don’t see football any other way. Having a good relationship doesn’t mean I can’t be demanding, that I can’t push them or that I can’t tell them to their faces what they’ve done wrong and what needs correcting. It’s a relationship you have to accept when you’re a player and when you’re a manager. Beyond that, it’s important that we all want to go to work and come to training.”

 

‘We know the high standards this club demands and that we’re going to go through difficult times. But even in those moments, there’s always been a good atmosphere. That doesn’t stop us from being able to say things to each other’s faces – things we might not always like – but that’s what makes us grow as a group. It’s what I’ve tried to do from day one, and for me it’s the right approach because I’ve always done it, and that’s how I feel a dressing room should be.’

The fans

“I’m not worried because I’ve sensed on the streets that the Madrid fans are behind the team. What we need to do is put in a great performance tomorrow, play well, show that we want to win, and earn the applause of the Bernabéu. It’s not enough here to rely on how well we did last Wednesday. Tomorrow is the day when, if we want the stadium behind us, we have to prove it. From the moment the ball starts rolling, we have to go out and win the game and show that ambition. Just as they’re doing in the big games, we need to do it against any team. That’s an area we need to keep improving, and tomorrow is the only thing I’m worried about.”

 

Arda Güler

“It’s been three very intense months with Güler. We’ve built a great relationship because we’ve been through a lot together. When I arrived here, there was a lot of talk about Arda not being capable of playing in big, high-intensity matches. Just look at the performances he’s put in against Bayern or Manchester City. I made it very clear to him from day one: whether he plays or doesn’t play in any match, whatever the intensity, it won’t be for lack of ability. Ever since I’ve been able to work with him, I’ve always seen the talent he possesses, the drive and the dedication that a player like him brings. It’s to his credit because he’s also been able to learn from the mistakes we’ve made along the way, from the ups and downs, and from the things he’s done well and not so well. It’s a great reward for the season Arda Güler is having.

Has joining the club midway through the season affected you?

“It’s not the same joining midway through the season under the circumstances I’ve found myself in—with so many injuries and a whole host of other completely different factors—as it is when you start a season from the very beginning. Nor does it warrant much further reflection on something that’s obvious to me. We have a great squad; I say that because I believe it, and I don’t think we need any major overhaul to try and compete for titles again. It’s always clear that there’s room for improvement. All teams look to the future in the summer to make improvements, and I’m sure Real Madrid will do so, and with that we’ll be back in the fight to win.”

 

Questions focused more on his future than on tomorrow’s match

“You ask the questions, not me. You’re free to ask whatever you like. The only thing that concerns me are the seven matches, especially tomorrow’s.”

Mbappé against Bayern

“I can’t be annoyed with anything Mbappé has done. He’s had a tie that’s been worthy of the player he is, scoring a goal in every match, posing a constant threat and helping us a lot when we were on the counter-attack, including when we had to play the ball out. He’s made a huge sacrifice in defence and worked incredibly hard. Believe it or not, we watch the matches more than once after they’re over. I’m pleased with Mbappé’s performance in the tie and with the player he is. He’s been a constant threat to Bayern and that’s the Kylian Mbappé we want to see every day.”

 

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