New Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa took the blame for a what was a nightmare start to life in the Bernabeu dugout as the 15-time Champions League winners were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Second Division Albacete in a 3-2 thriller on Wednesday.
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New Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa took the blame for a what was a nightmare start to life in the Bernabeu dugout.
By way of a 3-2 thriller on Wednesday, the 15-time Champions League king was knocked out of the Copa del Rey last 16 by Second Division Albacete in a huge giantkilling upset.
Taking over the reins from fired predecessor Xabi Alonso on Monday, Arbeloa might have expected a relatively easy ride in his debut against a 17th placed, second tier foe.
He fielded a number of usual substitutes and youngsters from the Castilla reserve outfit he managed as recently as last weekend, though there were some elite names such as Vinicius Jr., Fede Valverde and Arda Guler in the mix.
When all was said and done, however, they could do little to stop Albacete making history with what will be remembered as one of Spanish football’s greatest ever upsets.
Reacting to the loss, facilitated via a brace put together by substitute Jefte Betancor in the 82nd and 94th minutes, Arbeloa said: “A draw in this club is already bad, it’s a tragedy, so imagine a defeat like this.”
“Even more so when you do it against an opponent from a lower category. If anyone is responsible, it is me. I’m the one who has made the decisions in terms of the line-up, on how we wanted to play and the changes – and I can only thank the players for the welcome they’ve given me and for getting back in shape physically and mentally.”
Real Madrid boss Arbeloa believes his line up was the right one
Dropping Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe altogether, Arbeloa said he “was convinced that the squad was the right one”, as well as the team he picked and who was on the bench.
“I have a very talented squad, and for them it is not easy with one day with a new coach to do everything I have asked them to do, and I feel the most responsible.
“The important thing is to start working and recover them, we have many players to recover to their maximum physical level and to work and prepare for Saturday’s game,” Arbeloa added, in a nod to a La Liga hosting of Levante at the Bernabeu where many think Madrid’s underperforming stars could be booed.
Arbeloa is not afraid of failure at Real Madrid
Asked if the loss was a failure, Arbeloa said he isn’t “afraid” of such a thing.
“Whoever wants to describe this defeat like, that I understand. Failure is on the way to success, for me they are not in opposite directions. This is going to make me improve, we have a lot of improvement to do but I’m not afraid of failure,” the World Cup winner insisted.
“I’ve failed many times in my life. I’ve suffered cup eliminations worse than this, and I have all the spirit of returning tomorrow to Valdebebas to work with my players,” he concluded.
As mentioned, Arbeloa now has a couple of days with Real Madrid’s crestfallen squad before it receives relegation-threatened Levante on Saturday afternoon in the league.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomsanderson/2026/01/14/arbeloa-nightmare-real-madrid-start-in-copa-del-rey-loss-a-tragedy/
