Ego management vital for Arbeloa during Real Madrids match against Monaco
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa appears convinced that guiding the 15-time European champions to victory requires delicately handling the egos within the squad.
On Tuesday, Los Blancos will welcome Monaco in the Champions League, aiming to secure their spot in the top eight of the league phase and move past a difficult period.
The loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup, which was Xabi Alonsos final match in charge, combined with Arbeloas initial Copa del Rey setback, rattled the team, and supporters voiced their frustration on Saturday by jeering their own side.
Despite a 2-0 victory over Levante in La Liga, there was significant unrest, with Arbeloa along with key figures Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham facing the brunt of the criticism.
Alonsos tenure began to unravel after he substituted Vinicius during a Clasico win against Barcelona in October, prompting an angry reaction from the Brazilian.
He also irritated Fede Valverde by deploying him in an unfamiliar role and frequently benched Jude Bellingham, leading to mounting internal pressure that ultimately proved too much.
The Basque manager reinstated Vinicius and Bellingham as indispensable talents, yet the results failed to materialise, forcing his departure.
Arbeloas strategy involves showering the squads most gifted individuals with praise, much like Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane did during their triumphant eras at the club.
Despite Vinicius underperforming in the cup defeat to second-division Albacete, Arbeloa praised the attacker effusively, bordering on exaggeration given the outcome.
"(He aimed) to shoulder the teams burden, to push forward and always stay involved, that is the version of Vini I wish to see," Arbeloa remarked.
After the whistles directed at Vinicius during the Levante game, he emphasised the wingers past successes and stressed the need to involve him constantly.
"I will urge his colleagues to seek him out more often, to pass him the ball whenever feasible," Arbeloa stated. "It fills me with pride to coach him."
Bellingham delivered a subpar performance in the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona and has managed just one goal in his previous 11 outings.
"In person, he impresses even more than on screen, with his wisdom, composure, and command," Arbeloa commented about the Englishman on Saturday.
"He ranks among the squads captains, just like Kylian, Vini, or Fede. These are talents destined for remarkable feats at Real Madrid, and in tough times, we must rely on them relentlessly, we need to keep them content."
Arbeloa must not only nurture the players but also maintain a strong rapport with club president Florentino Perez.
When questioned about chants calling for the presidents resignation, Arbeloa shifted his perspective on the Bernabeu ambiance, after initially acknowledging fans rights to voice opinions.
"(The jeers) do not come from those who lack affection for Florentino, but from individuals who do not cherish Real Madrid," Arbeloa declared, revealing his steadfast allegiance to the leader.
"We are fortunate to have a president who stands as the most significant figure, alongside Santiago Bernabeu, in our clubs storied past."
Mbappe conundrum
The one standout not criticised by Madrid supporters on Saturday is leading scorer Kylian Mbappe.
In contrast to several teammates, the French sensation has maintained exceptional form this term, tallying 30 goals in 26 appearances across various competitions.
Mbappe featured against Levante, contrary to early expectations of sitting out due to a knee injury recovery, and he successfully converted a penalty for the first goal.
Assuming no complications, Mbappe is set to feature against his old club on Tuesday, aiming to widen his advantage at the summit of Europes goal charts.
Even with the knee concern, Arbeloa kept Mbappe and the other primary stars on the pitch throughout the Levante encounter, sidestepping the errors that plagued his forerunner.
Nevertheless, ensuring the contentment of the teams key figures is only part of the challenge, fostering cohesive play among them poses a greater test.
This puzzle eluded Ancelotti in his final campaign and Alonso during his brief spell.
With Vinicius and Bellingham leading the assault, Madrid achieved a La Liga and Champions League double in 2024, boasting solid equilibrium. Mbappes integration has since overloaded the forward line.
With tensions easing slightly at the club, the clash with Monaco may reveal Arbeloas vision for harmonising the forwards while safeguarding the rearguard.