Álvaro Arbeloa sat for the first time as Real Madrid’s new manager in a nearly full press room in Valdebebas ahead of tomorrow’s Copa del Rey opener against Albacete (9pm CET, Carlos Belmonte). The former Castilla manager has already bid farewell to the club on his social networks, giving hints about what he wants from the team following the departure of Xabi Alonso.
The manager revealed that his friendship with Xavi remains intact, revealing that in their first meeting he reminded his players that Madrid is their best stage as players, and also made clear his commitment to Vinicius. “I want him to dance and have fun,” Arbeloa said. He acknowledges Mourinho’s influence but wants to follow his own path, but said: “If I wanted to be him, I would fail miserably.”Arbeloa was accompanied by Emilio Butragueno, who first sent a message of “love and admiration” to Arbeloa, and another to Xavi. “This is your home and we will all help you in this great challenge to make the dreams of all our fans come true. Xavi knows that this will always be his home. He is a legend at our club and a great role model. This decision was taken with mutual consent and we wish him all the best for the future.”
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After this short presentation, Arbeloa gave his first impressions. He wants his players to have fun and be the protagonists. “For me, today is a special day. I’m not going to lie. I’m 42 years old and I’ve lived in this house for 20 years, but it’s a special day for me. I recognize the responsibility that has been placed on me, I recognize the task that lies ahead of me, and I approach it with great enthusiasm.”
“Yesterday afternoon I was told that they had come to an agreement with Xavi and wanted me to take over. I spoke to Xavi and everyone here knows how much I appreciate him and how much I love him and it will continue to be mutual,” the manager explained.
Although he did not say the date or what the parties had agreed to regarding the length of the contract, he did say: “I have been here for 20 years and I will be here as long as Madrid want me to. This is my home and always will be. I am looking forward to starting. I have an extraordinary team.”
He has no doubts about getting the players involved. “I think we’ve all seen how hard they worked in the season and in the Super Cup final. We’ve got a great team and we’ve got people here who won the European Cup six times and were champions, but that seems to be quickly forgotten. “We have good players. We have a team of great professionals and they are all very good players. No one is more interested in winning than the players, and I know what that feels like.”I told them this morning that my time as a Madrid player was the best. They are very demanding of themselves. ”
In response to the fact that they are playing well, Arbeloa responded with a message: “Real Madrid has a history of more than 100 years and it is difficult for them to be recognized for playing well. Here they won the Champions League for the third time in a row, but only because they went to water the garden after training. They have to win here.” He gave details of his communication with Xavi: “He wished me well and vice versa. Our friendship is over many things and I wish him success.” He is a great coach, so we will continue to work together. ”
Youth Academy grows stronger
“For me, this is the best youth academy in the world, and there are players from La Fabrica all over the world. I’m lucky enough to be with a lot of the youth players who brought me here. They know that the first-team coach knows them better than anyone, and I trust them,” he added.
Arbeloa also spoke about Mourinho’s influence on him: “It was a privilege for me to train with him and I have a great relationship with him. He was a big influence on me. If I wanted to be him, I would fail miserably. I am Arbeloa.”
The role of physical preparation and pintas is clear. “It’s an honor to have him on our coaching staff. He’s an exceptional talent and will be a coach. He knows a lot of the players well and we know how well he’s worked here at home.”
Luis Aragonés’ motto
Xabi Alonso wanted a rock’n’roll Madrid, but Arbeloa was focused on winning and avoided this kind of qualification, bringing up Luis Aragonés’ famous phrase: “This club is about winning, winning and winning again. It’s in our DNA. That’s what led us to fill the trophy cabinet. When I was a player, I received those values in the dressing room. That’s the most important thing. That’s my obsession.”
The cases of Vinicius and Xavi are in the past, but the manager is using the opportunity to make his commitment to the No. 7 clear: “I won’t get involved in a scenario that hasn’t happened to me. It’s great to have one of the most unbalanced players in the world. “And that’s what we want to see, Vini having fun and dancing. That’s what I want to see. Everyone has to win in Albacete and I think the players were all very enthusiastic and showed their enthusiasm,” he concluded.
