Arbeloa Speaks on Mbappe, Bellingham, Huijsen, VAR, and Squad Overhaul Following Barcelona’s 2-0 Victory Over Real Madrid
The atmosphere around Real Madrid has rarely been more somber after their painful El Clasico defeat to Barcelona, a result that officially ended their hopes of winning La Liga this season. With the title race now over, manager Alvaro Arbeloa appeared visibly frustrated as he addressed the media at Camp Nou.
The defeat not only handed Barcelona the upper hand in Spanish football once again but also confirmed that Real Madrid would finish the campaign without a major trophy. Emotions ran high among supporters, something Arbeloa admitted he fully understood.
The Madrid coach began by sending a direct message to the club’s fanbase, acknowledging the anger and disappointment surrounding the result and the season overall. “We can’t say much because we understand the frustration and disappointment. All we can do is work hard and look to the future. We know Real Madrid always comes back, and right now I understand the fans’ anger just as much as we do,” Arbeloa stated.
Concerns also arose regarding Kylian Mbappe, who did not travel with the squad for the crucial clash. Questions continue to grow over whether the French superstar will play again before the end of the league season. When asked if Mbappe could have done more to recover or if supporters would see him again this campaign, Arbeloa kept his response cautious: “I don’t know. We’ll see how his injury progresses.”
Another major talking point was the controversial decision following a challenge by Eric Garcia on Jude Bellingham. While debates erupted after the final whistle, Arbeloa made it clear he believed the decision was correct. He questioned why VAR failed to intervene further during the incident before congratulating Barcelona on their league triumph. “From what we could see, it was clear. We should probably ask why VAR didn’t intervene. Congratulations to Barça on the title; they got off to a very strong start,” he said.
Real Madrid lost the El Clasico and the La Liga title. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
The Madrid boss also reflected on how quickly the game slipped away once Barcelona took control. He admitted that chasing the match against such a well-organized team became extremely difficult. “It became an uphill battle too early on. They’re very good when they take the lead. They’re a very well-drilled team. I asked them to give it their all until the very end, regardless of the score,” Arbeloa explained.
Despite the disappointment of finishing the season without silverware, Arbeloa rejected suggestions that the squad requires a complete rebuild. Instead, he backed the current group of players and insisted the focus must now shift toward next season. “We have a great roster that can be leveraged to great effect. We have players that any team in Europe would want. All that’s left is to focus on the future,” he said.
Arbeloa also explained the late change involving Dean Huijsen. The defender arrived at the stadium suffering from flu-like symptoms and was eventually withdrawn from the starting lineup shortly before kickoff. “He wanted to play. But he was feeling weak, and it was my decision. We needed energy, so I decided to start Raul [Asencio] in his place,” he concluded.
Source: AS
