Real Madrid avoided the worst on Sunday evening. If the title was already out of reach for the Merengues, it was still necessary to clean up a little this bad image of recent weeks. And above all, a draw or a defeat against Espanyol would have officially confirmed the coronation of FC Barcelona. Problem: this would have “forced” Real Madrid players to do this famous pasillo – the traditional hatred of honor – to their Barcelona rivals during next Sunday’s Clasico.
Despite this victory for Real Madrid against the Catalans (2-0) which avoided the pasillo, acquired thanks to a double from Vinicius Jr, the atmosphere was not necessarily good on the Madrid side. Already annoyed by the questions about Kylian Mbappé increasingly criticized in Madrid, Alvaro Arbeloa also did not appreciate the performance of his players, one week before a Clasico which could promise to be devastating.
Arbeloa let go
At a press conference, the former Spanish defender dressed his team for the winter. “We need everyone. It hurts my heart to see that all the other teams are running more than us. This is something we need to work on. When we have the ball, we have to be more mobile, make more calls… We need everyone’s commitment to press, defend, attack… Today, talent alone is no longer enough”first launched the coach, deploring the lack of investment from his team. Not just against Espanyol, but over the entire past season.
“I like to see the players understand that commitment is important and that it is part of Real Madrid’s values. We didn’t build Real Madrid by fielding players who play in suits. This club was built with sacrifice, consistency, effort, players who finish the match with their jersey all sweaty and full of mud. It is by combining talent and commitment that we become the best team in the world”. A salient outing, while Arbeloa has little to lose, his fate at the head of the team being sealed. As indicated Marcathe former full-back clearly intended to settle scores. The message got through…
