Arbeloa: "Our only focus is winning against Elche"
"It is a very important match at our stadium, and we want an atmosphere very similar to Wednesday's," added our coach.
Álvaro Arbeloa spoke to the media at Real Madrid City and analyzed the match against Elche, corresponding to Matchday 28 of LaLiga (Saturday, 9:00 pm CEST; Orange TV and Movistar LaLiga): "We approach it with the mindset that we are playing for the LaLiga. We know it is a very important match at our stadium. We want an atmosphere very similar to the one we had last Wednesday."
"We are also aware of the team we will face, they play better than the points they have and made things difficult for us in the first leg. We are prepared to make an extra effort after the Champions League match, staying very focused and motivated knowing the difficulty of the game."
Extra effort
"We will field the best team possible to beat Elche. I have no doubt. I am not thinking about anything other than tomorrow's match at nine at night. The players need to give their all and go home exhausted after each match, recover, and be ready for the next one. That is their job. It is a very demanding job, not an easy one, which is why they are here, because they are Real Madrid players. They must be capable of giving their best version every three days and be ready to run, fight, and work again as they did on Wednesday."
Mbappé's recovery
"I think he is getting better every day. The progress he is making follows the plan we set when we decided to pause, after conducting all the tests with the medical services and the physical preparation department. It is clear that it also depended a lot on his daily progress, but I see him doing very well. He will not be available tomorrow, but we are confident he will be ready to travel to Manchester."
Praise for Courtois
"I have played with some of the best goalkeepers in the world. I think not only were they among the best in the world, but they were also considered some of the best in history. However, what Thibaut Courtois is doing, I have not seen from anyone else. I said it the other day, and I stand by it: for me, there is no debate with any goalkeeper, and surely, we are witnessing the best goalkeeper in the history of Real Madrid, in my opinion."
Rest Periods
"I only have players who have raised their hands ready to make an effort again. People who are very committed and aware of how important tomorrow's match is. We have nothing else on our minds but winning tomorrow against a great team that comes from a clean week of preparation, analyzing how we played against Manchester City, having a clear game plan, and surely with much more energy in their legs than us. But we are Real Madrid, these are special players, made from a different mold, and tomorrow we have to prove it. I believe that if we can be a great team again like we were last Wednesday, with that mentality and teamwork, we can win any match, and that should be our objective every day".
"The data I have doesn't say that, it says, at least from what I've seen, that we've covered very similar distances, slightly less in total distance and slightly more in high-intensity sprints. I think all those physical stats are always striking, but there are many other factors to consider. Football isn't just about the physical aspect; it's also about tactics, quality, and mentality. To win a match and to win well in football, it’s not just about running. It's very important these days, but I think we are a team where it's normal to run less in total distance compared to our opponents. "However, in high intensity and sprints, many days we run more than our opponents, due to the type of players we have, their playing style, or their physiology. I'm not overly concerned about that data. I want to see a team with the mentality we showed the other day, where we clearly demonstrated teamwork, sacrifice, and fighting for every ball. I think all the players, when they left the field, looked back and saw they had given their all, and that must be our mentality. That is Real Madrid, it’s our DNA. We need to ensure it’s not just a one-time thing. Regardless of the competition or the opponent, that must be our goal". Plan with Mbappé before the international break
"You're taking me far ahead. I want him to be able to travel to Manchester. Let’s see how he feels tomorrow and especially on Sunday when we’ll make a final decision. Hopefully, he’ll be there, and hopefully, he can also be available against Atlético de Madrid. After that, whatever happens with France, we’ll address it when the time comes". Are you concerned about Manuel Ángel's physicality?
"I think Manuel Ángel, for me, his size is the size of his heart, which is enormous. I have been very fortunate in my football career to play with wonderful players. We’ve been World and European champions with players who are under 1.70 meters, and no one worried about whether they were tall, short, or how they looked. They were sensational players. You have to be that in football, which, as we saw the other day against Manchester City, has players with exceptional and sensational physicality." "I think Manuel Ángel has no issues and will not have problems becoming an elite, first-division player because of his physicality, as he is a very brave boy. We also saw in Vigo how he won that duel on the ground. A player with exceptional boldness, ambidextrous, moves on both sides, with great technical quality and mobility. For me, I won’t say he’s one of my favorites, though he is, but he’s a boy I believe in a lot, and the minutes he had the other day were not easy. He did very well because he also works a lot. Hopefully, he can continue to get minutes and show what a great player he is". Enjoy all the videos of this match on RM Play Opportunities for the academy players
"The boys need to, first and foremost, keep working as they are; with great humility, knowing they are at a growth stage and must seize opportunities. There's a lot of focus on them because they are performing very well, but they must not lose the humility and mentality that brought them this far. They have reached this point through hard work, effort, commitment, and talent. That’s what they must continue doing, and as long as they keep doing that, they will earn their minutes on the field. I think everyone agrees on the great performance Thiago is showing with us. For now, he stays here, just like many others, such as Manuel Ángel or César, who have contributed a lot whenever they’ve played. Tomorrow, you might see some more. Very happy to have them all with us, and as we recover players, we’ll see what happens with them." Criticism
"I don’t bask in praise. I know that the next setback we have, which hopefully is far away or never comes, I’ll be scrutinized again. The next substitution I make will be questioned, as is normal. It’s not about me; it’s about being in this position. I believe the level of demand has always been very high, and criticism is inherent to this role. People who have been here and won several Champions in a row, or achieved many titles, or left here as the most decorated coaches in Real Madrid’s history, throughout their tenure, have faced a lot of criticism and doubts, often, in my opinion, incomprehensible. This comes with the job; it doesn’t surprise me, and it doesn’t concern me much. My only focus is on beating Elche and ensuring my players are well, as they are the protagonists, the ones who make us win, and the ones who always bring us joy. That’s what I must do: get the best out of all of them." Team’s physical transformation
"Everyone analyzes and concludes as they see fit, and Julen, in this case, has made his conclusions. I can only say that Pintus is an exceptional professional who is helping me and us a lot. It’s a privilege to have him by my side. We’ll continue working as we have been so far. Hopefully, we’ll keep being just as strong in the second halves as we’ve been."
Rest Periods
"I only have players who have raised their hands ready to make an effort again. People who are very committed and aware of how important tomorrow's match is. We have nothing else on our minds but winning tomorrow against a great team that comes from a clean week of preparation, analyzing how we played against Manchester City, having a clear game plan, and surely with much more energy in their legs than us. But we are Real Madrid, these are special players, made from a different mold, and tomorrow we have to prove it. I believe that if we can be a great team again like we were last Wednesday, with that mentality and teamwork, we can win any match, and that should be our objective every day".
"The data I have doesn't say that, it says, at least from what I've seen, that we've covered very similar distances, slightly less in total distance and slightly more in high-intensity sprints. I think all those physical stats are always striking, but there are many other factors to consider. Football isn't just about the physical aspect; it's also about tactics, quality, and mentality. To win a match and to win well in football, it’s not just about running. It's very important these days, but I think we are a team where it's normal to run less in total distance compared to our opponents. "However, in high intensity and sprints, many days we run more than our opponents, due to the type of players we have, their playing style, or their physiology. I'm not overly concerned about that data. I want to see a team with the mentality we showed the other day, where we clearly demonstrated teamwork, sacrifice, and fighting for every ball. I think all the players, when they left the field, looked back and saw they had given their all, and that must be our mentality. That is Real Madrid, it’s our DNA. We need to ensure it’s not just a one-time thing. Regardless of the competition or the opponent, that must be our goal". Plan with Mbappé before the international break
"You're taking me far ahead. I want him to be able to travel to Manchester. Let’s see how he feels tomorrow and especially on Sunday when we’ll make a final decision. Hopefully, he’ll be there, and hopefully, he can also be available against Atlético de Madrid. After that, whatever happens with France, we’ll address it when the time comes". Are you concerned about Manuel Ángel's physicality?
"I think Manuel Ángel, for me, his size is the size of his heart, which is enormous. I have been very fortunate in my football career to play with wonderful players. We’ve been World and European champions with players who are under 1.70 meters, and no one worried about whether they were tall, short, or how they looked. They were sensational players. You have to be that in football, which, as we saw the other day against Manchester City, has players with exceptional and sensational physicality." "I think Manuel Ángel has no issues and will not have problems becoming an elite, first-division player because of his physicality, as he is a very brave boy. We also saw in Vigo how he won that duel on the ground. A player with exceptional boldness, ambidextrous, moves on both sides, with great technical quality and mobility. For me, I won’t say he’s one of my favorites, though he is, but he’s a boy I believe in a lot, and the minutes he had the other day were not easy. He did very well because he also works a lot. Hopefully, he can continue to get minutes and show what a great player he is". Enjoy all the videos of this match on RM Play Opportunities for the academy players
"The boys need to, first and foremost, keep working as they are; with great humility, knowing they are at a growth stage and must seize opportunities. There's a lot of focus on them because they are performing very well, but they must not lose the humility and mentality that brought them this far. They have reached this point through hard work, effort, commitment, and talent. That’s what they must continue doing, and as long as they keep doing that, they will earn their minutes on the field. I think everyone agrees on the great performance Thiago is showing with us. For now, he stays here, just like many others, such as Manuel Ángel or César, who have contributed a lot whenever they’ve played. Tomorrow, you might see some more. Very happy to have them all with us, and as we recover players, we’ll see what happens with them." Criticism
"I don’t bask in praise. I know that the next setback we have, which hopefully is far away or never comes, I’ll be scrutinized again. The next substitution I make will be questioned, as is normal. It’s not about me; it’s about being in this position. I believe the level of demand has always been very high, and criticism is inherent to this role. People who have been here and won several Champions in a row, or achieved many titles, or left here as the most decorated coaches in Real Madrid’s history, throughout their tenure, have faced a lot of criticism and doubts, often, in my opinion, incomprehensible. This comes with the job; it doesn’t surprise me, and it doesn’t concern me much. My only focus is on beating Elche and ensuring my players are well, as they are the protagonists, the ones who make us win, and the ones who always bring us joy. That’s what I must do: get the best out of all of them." Team’s physical transformation
"Everyone analyzes and concludes as they see fit, and Julen, in this case, has made his conclusions. I can only say that Pintus is an exceptional professional who is helping me and us a lot. It’s a privilege to have him by my side. We’ll continue working as we have been so far. Hopefully, we’ll keep being just as strong in the second halves as we’ve been." Switching mindset depending on demands
"It’s very complicated, of course, it’s not easy. You have to ensure that the self-demand we have as players and as a team matches the motivation of the other day. This happens to all teams. Surely you won’t see the same Elche tomorrow that we’ve seen in past weeks, because they’re coming to the Santiago Bernabéu and they’re coming to play against Real Madrid. The emotional and motivational aspects are hard to match when it’s a regular match compared to when it’s a special match. That’s why being a Real Madrid player is so important and challenging, being so self-demanding, having a winning character, knowing you have to go out and give your maximum. With that complexity, we’ll go out tomorrow, being aware of this and knowing we have to make an extra effort. It’s what it is and it’s what we have. There are no doubts or excuses for not having a great match tomorrow and securing the three points, which is the objective".
Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.