Arbeloa of Real Madrid states that Mourinho will ‘always be part of our group.’
Álvaro Arbeloa referred to José Mourinho as “one of us” as Real Madrid prepares to compete against their former coach’s current team, Benfica, in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Madrid enters the match at the Estadio da Luz with 15 points, aiming to secure their position in the top eight, while Mourinho’s Benfica, having accumulated only six points from seven matches, must achieve a victory to maintain their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage.
Mourinho managed Arbeloa during his tenure at the Bernabéu from 2010 to 2013, and during a press conference on Tuesday, the current Madrid coach referred to his mentor as a “role model.”
“I mentioned it on my first day [as coach]: there will never be anyone like José,” Arbeloa stated. “Anyone who attempts to replicate him will not succeed, and I have recognized that from the very beginning. My achievement will be to remain true to myself.”
Arbeloa succeeded another former Mourinho player, Xabi Alonso, earlier this month and has rebounded from an exit in the Copa del Rey during his debut match to secure three consecutive victories, including Saturday’s win against Villarreal.
The Madrid coach noted that he has kept in contact with Mourinho over the years since their time together at the Bernabéu, but has been cautious about seeking managerial guidance too frequently.
“I know who Mourinho is, and I can imagine what his phone must be like,” Arbeloa remarked. “It’s understandable why he changes his number so often. I’ve tried to ‘disturb’ him as little as possible. However, he’s one of those friends you can go a long time without communicating with, and if you call him at 3 a.m., I’m confident he would answer.”
Arbeloa refrained from speculating on a potential return for Mourinho to the Bernabéu in the future, as the former Porto, Chelsea, and Internazionale coach faces pressure at Benfica following a challenging season.
Wednesday’s match in Lisbon signifies a return to the venue where Madrid claimed the Champions League title in 2014, a year after Mourinho left, having led the team to three consecutive UCL semifinals without advancing further.
“I prefer not to discuss hypotheticals,” Arbeloa commented. “The significance of the victory here 12 years ago deserves immense recognition, just like that of Carlo [Ancelotti] or [Zinedine] Zidane later on.
“However, Mourinho established the groundwork for those years. That is something I genuinely feel. I believe he has always been appreciated within the club. And that is why he was, is, and will always be one of us.”
