Arbeloa Takes Charge at Real Madrid, Accepts Full Responsibility

16 January 2026at13:20

Real Madrid has announced the dismissal of coach Xabi Alonso and the appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa as the team's new manager. Arbeloa held his first press conference ahead of the team's league match against Levante, scheduled for Saturday.

During the conference, Arbeloa confirmed the inclusion of Kylian Mbappé in the squad, stating that he "is the best and will be in the squad." Conversely, Rodrygo will not be available to play as he "is recovering from a very significant effort." Arbeloa also took full responsibility for the team's elimination from the Copa del Rey against Albacete, declaring: "Everything that happens on the pitch is my responsibility. When things go wrong, I know I have to help my players play better. I feel full responsibility for everything that happens on the pitch."

Arbeloa clarified that his words should not be interpreted as criticism of former coach Xabi Alonso and his coaching staff, saying: "If anyone wants my words to be a criticism of Xabi and his coaching staff, they would be very wrong." He mentioned his work with Antonio Pintus to improve player performance and praised Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, and Federico Valverde.

He also appealed to the Santiago Bernabéu fans to support the players, adding: "I understand that the fan is hurt and frustrated, but I will ask them to support their players."

Q&A

Why will Rodrygo not feature in Álvaro Arbeloa's first Real Madrid squad?

Rodrygo is currently unavailable for selection as he is recovering from a significant physical effort, as confirmed by new manager Álvaro Arbeloa ahead of the Levante match.

What did Álvaro Arbeloa state regarding Real Madrid's recent Copa del Rey elimination?

Álvaro Arbeloa explicitly took full responsibility for Real Madrid's elimination from the Copa del Rey against Albacete, emphasizing that all on-pitch outcomes fall under his purview.