For two weeks, Real Madrid have become irresistible. Irresistible in La Liga with two victories against Celta de Vigo (2-1) and Elche (4-1) and especially in the Champions League against Manchester City (3-0 at the Bernabéu, 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium). “We can win La Liga and the Champions League» has been repeated at the club since Tuesday evening. How was this fragile team, plagued by doubts, insufficiently prepared physically and collectively unbalanced, able to reverse this trend in such a short time? After the home defeat against Getafe (0-1, March 2), we didn’t give much of our skin. Since then, there has been a trigger that changed everything, assures A.S. in today’s edition.
“The turning point was the meeting in Valdebebas’ locker room», Explains the newspaper. A few hours later after Getafe, Alvaro Arbeloa organized a crisis meeting with the available locker room executives. Federico Valverde, Vinicius Junior, Antonio Rüdiger and Aurélien Tchouaméni all responded to give maximum information about the group to their coach, and also take the temperature of the locker room, while the latter was the victim of a massacre of injuries. Raul Asencio and Ferland Mendy had just joined, among others, Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Jude Bellingham.
Mbappé and Bellingham absent subscribers
This discussion took place calmly and suggestions were given to try to improve certain things. Experimental tactics were abandoned for more pragmatism, a different mentality; give more in summary. During the two matches against City, Casa Blanca covered more kilometers than their opponent, a significant fact. The message of doing more individually to win more collectively was passed on to the other members of the locker room, and A.S. does not hesitate to emphasize that this meeting in “between frames available» took place «in the absence of players as important as Bellingham and Mbappé“.
Another important lesson, to compensate for injuries, Arbeloa did not hesitate to turn to the training center. He was able to give playing time to some, like Thiago Pitarch, starter in the last 5 matches, and current standard bearer for Castilla. The Real Madrid coach is gaining legitimacy, abounds Marca. “In two months at the helm of the team, he has not missed a single day at Valdebebas», Reports a witness. He was even present for the Youth League match on Wednesday, having returned from Manchester in the middle of the night. There is still a long way to go but Arbeloa is thickening and starting to fit into her large size suit. For tailor-made, it will be necessary to confirm tomorrow against Atlético (9 p.m.) then in the C1 quarter-finals against Bayern, and manage the returns of Mbappé and Bellingham.
