Real Madrid Coach Arbeloa Anticipates Bernabeu Boos Against Levante

Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa hinted that he expects his team to get a frosty reception in the Bernabeu in light of poor performances, ahead of a La Liga clash against Levante on Saturday.

The Los Blancos faithful aren’t happy in the light of Spanish Super Cup final and Copa del Rey last 16 losses to FC Barcelona and Albacete respectively over the past few days.

While the former defeat resulted in Xabi Alonso losing his job, the latter against a 17th-placed Second Division foe was led by his successor and former teammate Arbeloa, who dubbed the upset a “tragedy”.

It is widely thought that Real Madrid’s unperforming stars will receive a monumental pitada, or booing, when they take to the Bernabeu field to face relegation threatened Levante on Saturday.

And when asked about this, Arbeloa showed that he gets the sour mood of the punters.

“I respect the opinion of the Bernabeu a lot. I understand that Real Madrid fans are hurt and disappointed with us, but I’m going to ask them for support,” Arbeloa stated in his press conference.

“In Real Madrid’s 123-year history, titles have been won when the Bernabeu has been with the players. Juanito said that “90 minutes at the Bernabeu are molto longo“, when the Bernabeu is with our players. That’s what I’m going to ask of them,” he added.

Real Madrid boss Arbeloa refuses to criticize Xabi Alonso

Comments made about the physical condition of the players after Albacete were skewed by some corners of the press and made to look at a dig at Alonso by Arbeloa, who insisted that wasn’t the case.

“I’m no stranger to everything that’s said and, obviously, if someone wants my words to be a criticism of Xabi, they won’t find them. They will be very wrong,” Arbeloa, a former Real Madrid player and Castilla coach said.

“What happened in Albacete was a lack of ideas, of play, of physicality… of many things for which I am responsible. There will only be one person responsible, which is the Real Madrid coach. With Antonio Pintus, we will work to recover the best version of the players in all aspects.”

Arbeloa expects big things of Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid

Regarding England international Jude Bellingham, Arbeloa said that “you realize up close what kind of player he is”.

Arbeloa demanded that Arbeloa “has to be another of the leaders of this team”.

“I always like to have players who can have a lot of mobility, Jude has the ability to create and to build. I will ask him to be important. He also has the ability to reach the area and we have to take advantage of it”.

Real Madrid takes on Levante in La Liga at 14:15 on Saturday in Spain.