XABI ALONSO ON THE BRINK: COULD LOSS TO CITY FORCE REAL MADRID TO PROMOTE ALVARO ARBELOA
Real Madrid is reportedly eyeing reserve coach Alvaro Arbeloa if Xabi Alonso is sacked after the Man City game. Players are also facing blame for "disarray."
Word is, Real Madrid might look closer to home if they part ways with Xabi Alonso. Many expect Alonso to be out if Real loses to Manchester City in the Champions League.
Apparently, it's not all on Alonso, as the players are also getting some blame.
Losing to Pep Guardiola's team would be bad news for Alonso, because Real has had a tough month. Also, there are rumours of problems between Alonso and the team.
Real Could Turn to Arbeloa
If Alonso's position becomes shaky, some names being considered include Zinedine Zidane and Jurgen Klopp.
But a report says ex-Real and Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa could be the one to take over.
Arbeloa stopped playing in 2017 and has held different coaching jobs at Real since then. He first joined the club as a teen.
Since May, the 42-year-old has managed Real Madrid Castilla, the club's reserve team, which plays in the third tier of Spanish soccer.
Word is that Real's leaders are impressed with Arbeloa's work with the younger players and his modern style of play.
Now, it's just a question of whether Alonso can keep his job with a win against City.
Real Madrid Stars Accused of Being Disorganised
Julen Guerrero, a former player for Athletic Bilbao and Spain, believes Alonso shouldn't take all the responsibility for Real Madrid's recent struggles.
Alonso is catching flak because Real has only won two of its last seven games. But Guerrero is also blaming the players.
Guerrero said on a radio show that the problem isn't tactics but the players' attitude and lack of teamwork.
Guerrero commented, If [Alonso] can't control the egos and the players don't commit to what the coach wants, it will be hard.
He added, The team seems disorganised. I think Xabi Alonso is affected by everything going on. I don't know if all the players are committed, and there's a lot of disarray that frustrates them. Everyone is fighting for themselves.
There's not enough commitment from everyone. The players need to work for the team, and they aren't doing that.
Injuries Lead to Jose Reyes' Call-Up for Real Training
Real Madrid will face Man City with as many as seven players out. Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Dean Huijsen, Eder Militao, Eduardo Camavinga, Ferland Mendy, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all unavailable.
Kylian Mbappe also has a broken finger, and Jude Bellingham, Antonio Rudiger, and Federico Valverde all have minor injuries. But all four are expected to play.
Because of the many missing and questionable players, Xabi Alonso has called up Jose Reyes Lopez to train with the first team before the game, according to MARCA.
The 18-year-old is the son of the late Jose Antonio Reyes, who played for Arsenal and Real Madrid.
The young Reyes, a versatile forward, is currently with the Los Blancos academy and has trained with the senior team before under Carlo Ancelotti.
With Real's current problems, it's unclear if this talented player will be added to the squad list for any upcoming games.
KYLIAN MBAPPé FIT FOR MUNICH; REAL MADRID EYE ANOTHER LEGENDARY CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REVERSAL
Kylian Mbappé is fit! Real Madrid face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. See the full UCL lineup and Arbeloa's plan.
The second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich kicks off on Wednesday at the Allianz Arena, and now Kylian Mbappe’s injury status is clear.
Madrid trails 2-1 on aggregate after losing to Bayern at home at the Bernabeu last week, with Mbappe grabbing their only goal late in the match.
What happened to Mbappe? Last Friday against Girona, he took a nasty hit to the face from Vitor Reis. Blood everywhere, a deep cut, and in the end, stitches across his forehead.
People worried about a concussion, but Mbappe got cleared for Sunday’s training. He showed up with a big bandage on his head, looking ready to go to Munich. Still, he skipped the next day’s session, resting up because he was sore, but Madrid said he could travel, and by Tuesday, he was back on the Allianz Arena pitch with the team.
Madrid’s official update: Mbappe took part in multiple drills, joined in tactical exercises, and finished up with some shooting drills. He looked comfortable.
So, here’s where things stand for the Bayern match: Fabrizio Romano says Mbappe will play. Not just available, he’s expected to start for Alvaro Arbeloa, with Jude Bellingham also back in the eleven.
Bellingham has returned for Madrid’s last three games after a long injury spell and started against Girona. He knows Bayern well, having played against them during his Borussia Dortmund days.
Mbappe and Bellingham are both fit for Munich, but Madrid will miss Rodrygo, Thibaut Courtois, and Raul Asensio due to injuries. Plus, Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended after picking up his third yellow card of the tournament in the first leg.
Still, Arbeloa has options he can turn to Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Thiago Pitarch, or Dani Ceballos to fill Tchouameni’s spot.
Looking ahead to the match, Arbeloa sounds confident, especially now that Mbappé is fit.
“We’re Real Madrid. If there’s one team that comes to this stadium and turns things around, it’s us,” Arbeloa said. “We never give up. We’ve got 15 European Cups. Whether we go through with our badge or on top of it, we’ll fight. And honestly, we don’t need miracles. We could’ve won the first leg; nothing crazy about that.”
Madrid has a good history in Munich; they haven’t lost at the Allianz Arena in their last four trips. They won in 2014, 2017, and 2018; then their most recent clash was a 2-2 draw in the Champions League semi-final first leg earlier this year.
Now, with Mbappé and Bellingham ready, Madrid’s out to flip the script against Bayern just like they’ve done so many times before.
ARBELOA CLAIMS MBAPPE PENALTY WAS VISIBLE FROM SPACE FOLLOWING GIRONA STALEMATE
Alvaro Arbeloa slams VAR for a "moon penalty" snub. Discover why Real Madrid is 6 points behind Barcelona today.
Alvaro Arbeloa wasn't holding back, criticising the decision not to give Kylian Mbappe a penalty, a moment that saw Real Madrid's La Liga title ambitions take yet another hit after their draw with Girona.
On Friday night, Real Madrid ultimately drew 1-1 with Girona; Federico Valverde's second-half goal was ultimately nullified by Thomas Lemar.
In the game's final moments, the home side was visibly incensed, believing Mbappe should have been awarded a crucial late penalty.
Mbappe had driven into the Girona penalty area when he was met by the outstretched arm of defender Vitor Reis.
The French forward subsequently fell to the ground inside the box, but his protests for a spot-kick were dismissed by both the referee and VAR.
The impact left Mbappe with blood on his face, compelling the Real Madrid star to seek treatment above his right eye after being struck by Reis' elbow.
Kylian Mbappe's face was bloodied following the elbow strike he sustained during the match against Girona.
Although the Real Madrid forward fell inside the area after contact from an outstretched arm, his pleas for a penalty went unheeded.
Despite the Real Madrid star needing medical attention, the VAR system ultimately chose not to intervene and award the spot-kick.
"That's a penalty call here on Earth, and it's a penalty on the moon," Arbeloa candidly told reporters after the match.
"It's just another one of those moments, another week where this happens. It simply is what it is, and nobody, myself included, truly grasps it."
"When exactly does VAR decide to step in? It seems to intervene only when it's convenient for them, and when it's not, it doesn't."
"You're already familiar with my stance on these matters; the evidence consistently supports it."
"It was a clear foul; in fact, they called a lesser foul on Kylian earlier that wasn't even close to being a penalty."
"We've faced numerous issues with officials. Whether it's this incident or the one in Mallorca, it often feels like the same narrative unfolding."
This draw consequently inflicted further harm on Real Madrid's prospects of closing the gap on their rivals Barcelona in the La Liga title race.
Arbeloa's team now trails Barcelona by six points, and the Catalan side still holds a game in hand.
Alvaro Arbeloa vocally criticised the officiating decisions made during their draw with Girona.
Thomas Lemar's equalising goal unfortunately led to Real Madrid losing additional points in the La Liga title contention.
As it stands, Real Madrid finds itself six points adrift of Barcelona, with the latter possessing a game yet to be played.
Barcelona has the opportunity to extend its lead to nine points when they host Espanyol on Saturday afternoon.
Real Madrid's focus will now inevitably shift back to the Champions League, where they aim to overcome a first-leg deficit against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
During the midweek fixture, Arbeloa's squad suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to the formidable German side.
The crucial return leg is scheduled to take place at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
Must Read
