It was probably the most anticipated press conference of the Real Madrid season. And it’s not because the Merengues face FC Barcelona in the Clasico this Sunday and that the Catalans can be crowned Champion of Spain. But it is because of the extra-sporting concerns of the last few days which have plunged the Casa Blanca into chaos. In addition to Kylian Mbappé’s outings in Italy, the club was marked by the serious incident between Aurélien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde. And so there were a lot of questions to ask Alvaro Arbeloa this Saturday morning about the situation at the club and the relationships in the locker room. The Spanish coach decided to respond cash on this subject to no longer leave room for interpretation.
“First of all, I am very proud of the firmness, speed and transparency shown by the club. Then, I am proud that the players recognized their mistake, expressed their regrets and asked for forgiveness. For me, that’s enough. What I’m not going to do is pillory them, because they don’t deserve it. For what they have shown me over these four months and these last years. They proved that they know what it’s like to be a Real Madrid player, and I won’t forget that. (…) Valverde and Tchouameni deserve that we turn the page, that we give them a chance to continue fighting for this club. I am very proud of them. I will not allow this situation to be taken advantage of to question their professionalism: it is a lie to say that they are not professional, that they lacked respect for me… it is absolutely false. Just like it’s wrong to say that some of them don’t play because of problems with me, or because of their lives outside Real Madrid. I am primarily responsible for the fact that the season… certainly not, that’s for sure, is not up to par. But I have been here for four months and I am very proud of my players. The way they welcomed me, given our original situation. And it’s clear that frustration and rage can lead you to situations you don’t want.”he first explained.
Arbeloa still defends his locker room but…
As usual, Arbeloa then explained that the club’s current situation was solely his fault. “I am responsible for everything that happens at Real Madrid. What if I find the situation exaggerated? I had a teammate hit another with a golf club. For me, the most serious thing is that what happens in the locker room must stay in the locker room. This incident was an unfortunate coincidence. And we have to put an end to this. When a Real Madrid player does not play, it is not for extra-sporting reasons. A lot of lies have been told about players who had problems with me… and they are absolute lies. I tell people that they can be reassured by this locker room, by these decisions. Being at this club without winning is not easy, I know; we went through very difficult situations, like all these years without winning a European Cup, 12 passed between the Ninth and the Tenth. We have been through difficult times. But we must do it together: the supporters, the club… no one is better placed than our president to turn the situation around. He managed to bring Real Madrid back to where they deserve to be. And with all this, we must fight to bring Real Madrid back to where it deserves to be.he said before continuing.
I don’t have my office in the Real Madrid locker room. I wish I could be responsible for everything that happens and control everything. It’s a situation that is not pleasant, it must serve as an example to everyone and that’s all. We have to turn the page, learn from it and not forget that tomorrow there is a Barcelona-Real Madrid match. Otherwise, it’s a healthy locker room. It’s not easy to go two seasons without a title and, as I always say, to be a Real Madrid player you have to have a lot of ambition. Of course we have to do better… but I see a healthy locker room, I mean that sincerely. A locker room ready to return to victory. I’m sure everyone will mature next year, knowing much better what this badge represents. Nothing that has happened over the last four months makes me say that I am not happy and proud of this locker room.
…He castigates the mole!
Relaunched immediately on Kylian Mbappé and the famous images of the Frenchman laughing at the end of training on Thursday just after the incident between Tchouameni and Valverde, Arbeloa wanted to clarify the matter. “Look, those who want to take out of context the fact that a player comes out smiling after training, well I repeat… that’s taking things out of context. Just like what happened with Carreras on the Espanyol pitch. I can only defend him, for his work and the way he treats me. When he played, it was because he deserved it, and when he didn’t play, it was because someone else deserved it. Mbappé made enormous efforts to play for Real Madrid, we all know that. He had to give up a lot of things to make his dream come true, because we all saw him as a child in the Real Madrid tracksuit. He had everything at PSG.”
Finally on the question of the numerous leaks, the Spanish coach was also very clear, anyone who reveals behind the scenes of the locker room to the press is necessarily a traitor. “I repeat, because perhaps I was not clear enough: disclosing information about what happened in the locker room is like betraying Real Madrid. His coat of arms. It is an act of disloyalty. I don’t work for the CIA or anything like that. I’m not accusing my players or anyone else; I can’t. There are a lot of people at Real Madrid, and I’m not going to accuse anyone. What happens with my players will remain between them and me. » This is clear. Alvarao Arbeloa was keen to dot the i’s during this press conference. And while he also announced that Tchouameni was going to be part of the group against Barça, this weekend’s Clasico promises to be quite… explosive!
