Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa continued to praise his players for their performance, while giving little details of his plans ahead of their Champions League qualifying round clash with Benfica. The two met less than a month after Benfica won 4-2 in Lisbon in the last game of the league stage.
Arbeloa has won every La Liga game since taking charge, with Real Madrid overturning a two-point deficit to Barcelona to become leaders. Five of their eight wins on the bounce in La Liga have come under him, but he was unwilling to get into how much credit Xabi Alonso deserves or deserves.
“I don’t know … I don’t think in terms of percentages. Since I arrived, I have seen a good attitude in all the players, and that has been the key. In football, it is much easier to be a coach than a player because it is easier to say what to do than to actually do it. So, a large part of the credit must go to the players themselves,” he told Diario their hard effort with AS tells AS Diario.
“The good results are due to the 20-25 players we have who prepare every game as if it were the finals. And with that mindset, that level of dedication, good results come. But we are sure we can do even better.”
Arbeloa prioritizes durability above all else
The Real Madrid manager also spoke about his plan, and whether he would be teaming up with four midfield players. Arbeloa has been vague about his tactical ambitions, and continued to talk more about the characteristics he wanted from his side, rather than a specific style of play.
“We are coming from Villarreal… and that day we played without that plan. The goal is always strong. It is very difficult these days to play good football if you are not strong, united, and do not know how to go up the field. And to do all that, you need to concentrate a lot; a lot of work and training.”
“Valverde, Camavinga, Tchouameni and Guler are doing an excellent job, I don’t need to tell them anything new. They are doing well like everyone else. If the team is strong it is because of the work of ten players.”
Arbeloa is not out to get revenge on Benfica
Mourinho stated that he will plan this match with different strategies, as Real Madrid plays in a different way than it did three weeks ago.
“One team, obviously, has more talent. But their spirit will be very similar to what it was three weeks ago. They have a leader who sets the course, sets the way they play and compete. From there, there are a few differences. But it will be a very competitive, tough team. And we have to prepare.”
Arbeloa did not score in the previous game, but said his team was looking to advance to the next round, rather than revenge.
“No, no, no. We always think about winning. Our goal is not only to finish Benfica, but to win the Champions League. Going through this round is not about revenge, it is about achieving our goal.”
“For us, it’s a new game; we can’t think of anything else. It’s a new game… and we want to do our best. There’s no other goal than to win.”
It is expected that Real Madrid will return with Kylian Mbappe in this game after he went public with the victory over Real Sociedad. They will be without Rodrygo Goes and Raul Asencio through suspension, after both were sent off against Benfica last time out.
