Arbeloa: Real Madrid Copa exit to 2nd-tier side ‘painful’
New Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa has taken responsibility for the team’s “painful” 3-2 Copa del Rey defeat to second division Albacete on Wednesday, defending his decision to rest a number of senior players.
A 94th-minute winner from Jefte Betancor gave Albacete – currently 17th in the second division – their first victory against Madrid, after Gonzalo García appeared to have forced extra time at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte with a 91st-minute header.
Arbeloa took charge of Madrid on Tuesday, having coached the reserve team following the departure of Xabi Alonso.
“In this club a draw is bad, a tragedy, so imagine a defeat like this,” Arbeloa said in his post-match press conference. “It’s painful, especially against a lower division team. … We obviously have to improve.
“I am responsible, I make the decisions: the team, the way we want to play, the substitutions. We will try to regain our morale and physically, and improve for the match on Saturday. [against Levante in LaLiga]”.
Madrid’s exit from the Copa came just three days after their defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a result which preceded Alonso’s departure as coach.
Arbeloa has ruled out several key players from the squad for the trip to Albacete, including Thibaut Courtois, Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Álvaro Carreras, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappé, who is suffering from a sprained knee.
“I was convinced the team was the right one, and I still believe that,” Arbeloa said. “We have an extraordinary team, with great players. It’s not easy for them to do everything I asked of them after just one day. [in the job]. We have a lot of players to get back to their best physical level.
“I don’t regret anything. I would choose the same team again.”
Madrid had previously only reached the last 16 of the Copa, needing a brace from Mbappé to beat third division Talavera de la Reina 3-2 in December.
“I think we hit rock bottom today,” defender Dani Carvajal told reporters. “We were eliminated by a second division team. Congratulations to them. From tomorrow, we will all do a self-criticism, individually and collectively. There is still time to turn the season around.”
Arbeloa said: “If people want to describe it as failure, I would understand it. For me, failure is on the path to success. … I am not afraid of that word. I have failed a lot in my life, I suffered defeats in cups, I can’t wait to arrive at Valdebebas tomorrow and work with the players, to [play] much better on Saturday.”
The new coach spoke of the need for his team to improve physically and refused to see the Cup elimination as a positive in terms of reducing workload in the future.
“Losing is never a relief at Real Madrid,” Arbeloa said. “Obviously it can have positive consequences, but it wasn’t our goal to lose today. Physically we have a lot of room for improvement, that’s what [fitness coach] Anthony [Pintus] is here for that, I think we need it.”
Emotional scenes at the final whistle saw Albacete players take a lap of honour, while former Madrid defender Jesus Vallejo – who missed Wednesday’s game due to injury – left the pitch in tears.
“It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever experienced in football,” said match-winner Betancor. “This is what you dream of.
“Nine years ago I wanted to leave football. Now, dreaming and working hard, look where we are. I think we deserved it.”
