Álvaro Arbeloa took over Real Madrid at one of the most unforgiving moments possible, and his debut made that clear. A loss to Albacete, a second-division side, in his first official match put immediate pressure on the new head coach and turned any talk of rebuilding into a demand for quick answers. At Real Madrid, the badge weighs more than context, and the Copa del Rey stumble became far too loud to ignore.
The 3-2 defeat exposed a problem Arbeloa inherited and still needs to figure out. When he accepted the job, the former right back knew he wouldn’t find a clean slate. What likely wasn’t part of the script was having to explain an early elimination before even unveiling his first real version of the team, especially after resting a large portion of the regular starters.
The weight of the recent past and what needs to change
To understand the size of Arbeloa’s challenge, you only have to look at how Xabi Alonso’s stint ended. The former coach didn’t leave solely because of results, but due to growing wear and tear with part of the locker room. His relationship with veteran players was widely described as a sensitive issue, and the distance from the Brazilian players became a constant topic. Vinícius Júnior was substituted frequently, Rodrygo took time to earn consistent minutes, and Endrick, with no space, eventually moved to Lyon. At the same time, improvisation became routine, largely because of injuries, especially at the back. Valverde playing out of position and Tchouaméni lining up as a center back are examples of a team that lost balance over the course of the season.
Arbeloa has tried to set himself apart right away with his words. After the elimination, he said he isn’t afraid of failure and framed the setback as part of a process of growth. It’s a strong statement and one that fits someone who knows the club from the inside, but it runs into a familiar reality.
Between the short term and the survival of the season
Despite the noise, the season isn’t over yet. Real Madrid sit second in La Liga, four points behind Barcelona, and are seventh in the Champions League standings, with a good chance of advancing, even though there’s still the risk of having to play in the playoff round. The issue is that two fronts are already gone, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, both lost to their biggest rival. That sharply reduces the margin for error and increases the weight of every decision from here on out.
Arbeloa’s initial bet is on the physical side. The return of Antonio Pintus, in his third stint with the club, suggests the new coach sees a drop in intensity as a key factor behind recent results. The few days of training before the match against Levante will serve as a first rough sketch of his ideas, especially after the decision to rest starters against Albacete.