News Focus
- Arbeloa is set to leave his post following a four-month spell without trophies
- Sunday’s clash with Sevilla is expected to be his penultimate match in charge
- Jose Mourinho is the leading candidate to take over at the Bernabeu
- The 43-year-old has spent two decades at the club in various roles
- He defended the dressing room against claims it was ungovernable
Real Madrid will face Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan on Sunday. This fixture is likely to mark Alvaro Arbeloa’s second-last game as manager of the Spanish giants. The 43-year-old has failed to win any silverware this season. The club is therefore unlikely to keep him in his post beyond the summer.
Arbeloa took charge only four months ago. He arrived from the third tier of Spanish football. Now he leaves with valuable experience in La Liga and the Champions League. He spoke about his progress with pride. He said he will depart with a clear conscience and no regrets.
The outgoing boss has deep ties to the club. At 43, he has dedicated two decades to Real Madrid in different roles. He has served as a youth graduate, a senior defender, an ambassador and a youth team coach. He described the club as his home. He hopes supporters will remember him with affection, though he knows some fans may disagree with his methods.
Arbeloa also defended his players this week. He rejected claims that the dressing room was difficult to control. He stated that he does not share this view of the squad. He also spoke about the strong rumours linking Jose Mourinho with his job. He called the Portuguese tactician ‘one of us’. He said he would be very happy to see Mourinho return to the Bernabeu next season.
Finally, Arbeloa briefly mentioned striker Kylian Mbappe. He said he likes that the French forward was unhappy with recent results. This shows the player cares deeply about winning, he explained.