How Arbeloa has gained the trust of skeptics and instilled optimism in Real Madrid
At the conclusion of Álvaro Arbeloa’s press conference after Real Madrid’s intense 3-2 victory against Atlético Madrid in Sunday’s LaLiga derby, there was an opportunity for one final inquiry.
It was a straightforward question. What would you convey to those who questioned you? “That they were unaware of the players I had,” Arbeloa responded.
Since succeeding Xabi Alonso in January, Arbeloa has consistently redirected the attention towards the players, commending them and diverting any accolades for Madrid’s resurgence in their direction.
“I’m fortunate to have him,” has been a recurring statement when the coach has been queried about Vinícius Júnior, Federico Valverde, Kylian Mbappé, and others. “I would create a statue of him and place it in my garden,” he remarked prior to the derby when discussing defender Antonio Rüdiger.
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Regardless of whether it is the coach, the players, or both, Madrid has shown improvement since Arbeloa took the helm on January 12. During this period, they have secured 17 victories in 21 matches across all competitions, with four losses.
In LaLiga, they trail leaders Barcelona by four points — the same margin as when Alonso was dismissed — with a potentially pivotal Clásico scheduled for May 10. In the UEFA Champions League, they are set to face Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals after overcoming Manchester City 5-1 on aggregate.
In just a few weeks, Arbeloa’s Madrid has triumphed over three teams managed by renowned coaches: José Mourinho’s Benfica, Pep Guardiola’s City, and Diego Simeone’s Atlético.
However, the journey has not been entirely smooth. Arbeloa’s first match as head coach saw Madrid eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Albacete. Following consecutive LaLiga defeats to Osasuna and Getafe, club sources informed ESPN that unless there was “a miracle” or a Champions League victory — which at that time felt equally improbable — Arbeloa would be replaced in the summer.
Nevertheless, results indicate that the coach has undoubtedly made several key decisions correctly, beginning with his management of one of the team’s most significant — and previously underperforming — stars.
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Vinícius Júnior, back in form
Vinícius became the visible symbol of dressing-room dissent against Alonso with his frustrated on-field reaction to being substituted by the coach during last October’s Clásico.
Alonso’s skepticism regarding the Brazil forward had been apparent since the previous summer — ESPN reported that he contemplated sidelining Vinícius during the FIFA Club World Cup — and the coach excluded him from the squad in both LaLiga and the Champions League, despite his full fitness. Consequently, Vinícius lost confidence, went three months without scoring, and faced loud boos from home supporters at the Bernabéu.
Discussions regarding a new contract — with his current agreement expiring in 2027 — had stalled. ESPN reported that Alonso was a significant, perhaps insurmountable, barrier to Vinícius’s contract extension.
Arbeloa’s primary focus upon taking over was to restore the former Ballon d’Or runner-up’s confidence. He has consistently praised and defended Vinícius, reinstating him as a regular starter.
“I will work to maximize Vinícius’s potential,” the coach stated in January. “I will insist that [the other] players seek him out [with the ball]. He is fearless. He ranks among the most dangerous players, if not the most dangerous, in the world. He represents what a Real Madrid player embodies.”
Arbeloa’s trust and patience were rewarded when Vinícius scored in five consecutive matches in February — equaling his career-best streak — and then netted back-to-back braces against City and Atlético Madrid. When he was substituted late in the match against Atlético, Arbeloa was waiting with an embrace on the sidelines.
“I can’t say if [Vinícius] is at the peak of his career, but he is very close,” the coach remarked on Sunday.
While on international duty with Brazil this week, Vinícius expressed his desire to remain at Madrid “for a long time.”
A new role for Valverde
If Vinícius’ transformation has been the most striking aspect of Arbeloa’s tenure, Valverde’s evolution has not lagged far behind. Valverde was another senior player, alongside Vinícius and Jude Bellingham, who — sources close to the dressing room informed ESPN — were skeptical of Alonso.
Television footage depicted the midfielder unenthusiastically warming up on the sidelines after being omitted from the starting XI for a match against Kairat Almaty in September, and he was frequently deployed at right-back — a position he stated he “wasn’t born to play” — in the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal.
Valverde had not found the net this season until January’s Spanish Supercopa. Now, under Arbeloa — and after being restored to the attacking right-wing position where he excelled under Carlo Ancelotti — he has scored six goals in a month, including a hat trick against City that garnered global attention, and the crucial second goal against Atlético.
“Fede embodies everything a Real Madrid player should be,” Arbeloa stated after Valverde scored a 94th-minute winner at Celta Vigo on March 6. “He possesses the spirit of [1980s club legend] Juanito. He has the quality that the great players in our history have had, and today he carried the team on his back.”
Freed from right-back duties, and moved from a deep-lying central role that seemed ill-suited to his abilities, Valverde is thriving. This is not a reinvention by Arbeloa. Rather, similar to Vinícius, it has been about instilling confidence in a talented player and placing them in a position to succeed.
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Pitarch and homegrown talent
As the former coach of Madrid’s reserve team, Castilla — and previously with the club’s youth squads — Arbeloa’s direct knowledge of the academy was viewed as a positive prior to his appointment. However, the chances he has provided to young players have been more frequent and extensive than anyone could have anticipated.
In Madrid’s 4-1 victory over Elche at the Bernabéu on March 14, Madrid began with one young homegrown talent, midfielder Thiago Pitarch, in the starting lineup, before Arbeloa introduced another five — Gonzalo García, Daniel Yañez, Diego Aguado, Manuel Ángel, and César Palacios — off the bench. Madrid were only 2-0 ahead at that point, with the outcome still uncertain.
“I can die in peace after a night like this,” Arbeloa remarked, with a hint of exaggeration, afterward. “For someone who rose through the youth ranks to reach the first team, this is a day of immense joy and pride … It reminded me of the Madrid of the [legendary 1980s homegrown team] Quinta del Buitre era.”
Arbeloa’s faith in youth has been validated. The dynamic, fearless 18-year-old Thiago Pitarch has excelled, starting the team’s last six matches, injecting energy and movement into a previously stagnant midfield. Yañez provided an assist against Elche.
Arbeloa has demonstrated that he was not merely paying lip service to the academy; he genuinely meant it. Sources informed ESPN that senior club officials are pleased with his emphasis on the cantera, aware of the resulting increased valuations for homegrown players like Pitarch.
A compact 4-4-2 and a ‘false No. 9’
Pitarch has integrated into an athletic midfield quartet alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni — the team’s other standout performer in recent weeks — Valverde, and Arda Güler. Vinícius has been part of Arbeloa’s front two, starting on the left but with the freedom to move inside and occupy dangerous, goal-scoring positions within the box.
Partnering him, in the absence of Mbappé — who has been recovering from a knee sprain — has been Brahim Díaz. Díaz has often underperformed since joining Madrid, making just one start in Arbeloa’s initial two months in charge after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations a week into his new coach’s tenure. However, he has now started Madrid’s last five matches, including both legs against City, playing a modest, industrious ‘false No. 9’ role, and gaining confidence.
“[Díaz] is grasping well what I expect from him,” Arbeloa stated on Sunday. “When opponents sit deep, he has considerable freedom to maneuver between the lines. He sought opportunities, and merely avoiding mistakes wasn’t sufficient. He is a player who should seize chances, engage in one-on-ones, take shots on goal, and win penalties like today. That’s the Brahim we require.”
Winning over the doubters
Multiple sources close to the first-team squad have informed ESPN that there is a noticeable enhancement in the atmosphere around the Valdebebas training facility — and within the dressing room — since Arbeloa’s arrival, a welcome change following the tumultuous conclusion to Alonso’s tenure. Club executives are aware of this transformation, sources indicated, and cite it as evidence that they made the right choice in dismissing Alonso when they did. The former coach had concentrated almost solely on tactical solutions to the team’s issues, sources stated, while Arbeloa is less focused on on-field coaching and more on emotionally supporting the players and positioning them to perform.
However, it should also be noted that when results were poor — following the LaLiga defeats to Osasuna and Getafe — the portrayal of Arbeloa’s management by sources close to the dressing room was considerably less favorable. At that time, some players criticized Arbeloa’s approach and messaging, while executives indicated that he was almost certain to lose his position in the summer.
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What about Mbappé and Bellingham?
The returns from injury of Mbappé — who made his comeback as a substitute against City — and Bellingham — who came off the bench against Atlético — present both an opportunity and a significant challenge for Arbeloa. Two of the world’s elite players are back and available for selection; however, their inclusion risks disrupting the cohesive team dynamic that the coach has managed to cultivate in their absence.
There is no doubt that top scorer Mbappé will take the place of Díaz, who has been a vital part of the team’s success in recent weeks, while Bellingham will replace either Pitarch or Güler. Yet, while the two superstars possess numerous qualities, they may struggle to replicate those that their less prominent teammates contributed to the side: selfless work ethic and an acceptance of a specific, defined role to benefit the team as a whole.
Following the international break, Madrid will travel to Mallorca in LaLiga, before hosting Bayern Munich, one of Europe’s top teams, in the Champions League quarterfinals. Despite Arbeloa’s achievements in recent weeks, club sources remain hesitant to assert that he would retain his position next season if his Madrid fails to secure either trophy.
“I’m not Gandalf,” Arbeloa remarked last month in another idiosyncratic press conference diversion, when asked about altering the team’s fortunes. “What I am achieving is what I wanted from my players: commitment and effort.”
This back-to-basics approach has proven effective thus far. Eliminating Bayern would be Arbeloa’s most impressive feat yet.
