Álvaro Arbeloa and the excuse he offered after Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey elimination
The interim manager spoke at a press conference following the 3–2 defeat to Albacete.
Real Madrid is spiraling into one of its darkest periods in recent memory. Just days after a painful 3-2 defeat to FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, the "Merengues" have suffered a historic humiliation, falling 3-2 to Albacete, a team currently competing in Spain's second division (La Liga Hypermotion). This result confirms a total debacle for the project now led by Álvaro Arbeloa, who gambled on a heavily rotated lineup in the Copa del Rey—a move that backfired in spectacular fashion.
Following the unexpected away defeat, the interim head coach stood before the media to address the tactical failures and the psychological blow that this elimination represents for the 15-time Champions League winners.
"In this club, even a draw is considered a tragedy. This is painful, and I am certain all our fans are hurting. We knew the difficulty of this tournament; we saw it against Talavera. I am the one responsible, and I am the one to blame—regarding the lineup and the substitutions. I can only thank the players. Now, we must recover for Saturday," Arbeloa stated.
The Rotation Gamble: No Regrets for the "Spartan"
From the moment the squad list was released, it was clear that Arbeloa intended to overhaul the starting XI. By leaving 11 regular starters in Madrid to rest, he handed the reins to fringe players and several Real Madrid Castilla prospects. This "mixed" lineup struggled to find chemistry against a motivated Albacete side that played the match of their lives.
When questioned about whether his selection was too arrogant or risky, Arbeloa remained defiant: "I do not regret it; I would do the exact same thing again. I have a magnificent squad; it is a luxury to coach them. I am convinced that the call-up was the correct one, and I would make it a thousand times over."
Failure as a Stepping Stone
This match was Arbeloa’s first official test in charge of the senior professional squad, and starting his tenure with a "KO" against a lower-league side is a stain that often haunts managers in Madrid. However, the 42-year-old coach offered a philosophical view on the disaster, refusing to let the "failure" label break his resolve.
"I said it in yesterday's press conference: I am not afraid of failure. I understand those who want to classify this defeat as a failure. But failure is on the path to success. This will make me improve. It will make us all improve. I have failed many times in my life, with eliminations even tougher than this one. We will prepare for the next match with maximum dedication."
The Weight of the Crest
Arbeloa also touched upon the unique psychological pressure of playing for Real Madrid, acknowledging that the "White House" is one of the few places in the world where a single loss can trigger a full-scale institutional crisis.
"Real Madrid players are extremely self-demanding. The expectations are massive. They were the first ones who wanted to take responsibility in the locker room. Tomorrow at 11:00 AM, we will be at Valdebebas. This club is demanding, but great teams show their true character in moments like these. We know what we want and what we need to do, even if time is not on our side."
The Road Ahead: Redemption at the Bernabéu?
There is no time for a post-mortem. Real Madrid must now shift their focus back to La Liga, where they face Levante this Saturday, January 17. The match will mark Arbeloa’s first game at the Santiago Bernabéu as manager, and the atmosphere is expected to be tense. With the Copa del Rey and the Super Cup now out of reach, the league title has become a mandatory objective to save a season that is quickly slipping away.
