ALVARO ARBELOA RESPONDS TO MOURINHO’S "SPECIAL PLAYER" COMMENTS BEFORE UCL CLASH
Alvaro Arbeloa admits feeling emotional after Jose Mourinho called him "one of his boys." Get the full Real Madrid vs Benfica report.
Real Madrid’s manager, Alvaro Arbeloa, couldn’t hide his happiness after hearing what Benfica boss—and his old mentor—Jose Mourinho had to say about him. These two haven’t faced each other as managers before, but that’s about to change on Wednesday night when Real Madrid play Benfica.
Mourinho, never one to mince words, said Arbeloa “might not have been one of the best players” he coached at Madrid, “but maybe he was one of the best.” That kind of thing means a lot to Arbeloa, and it was all anyone wanted to talk about before the match, especially with Madrid aiming for a Champions League top eight spot.
Arbeloa just grinned when asked about it. “Of course, I watched his press conference. I never missed them as a player—we’d all crowd around in the dressing room to watch—and I didn’t miss it today, either. Honestly, hearing him talk about me like that, it got to me. He’s been so much more than just a coach. He’s played a huge role in my life, on and off the pitch. Now I consider him a great friend. I just want to thank him for those words. I can’t wait to see him tomorrow and give him a big hug.”
People love to call Arbeloa a Mourinho disciple, but he doesn’t see it that way. He said at his first press conference that he wasn’t trying to copy Mourinho’s style. Sure, earlier in his playing days, he joked that he tried to be “Mourinhista” in everything he did. But now?
“He’s a role model, for sure. I said it from day one—there’ll never be another Jose. Anyone who tries to imitate him is just setting themselves up to fail. I learned that early. My job is to be myself. Of course, that means there’s a part of Jose in what I do, and I learned a ton from him—how to communicate, how to think about tactics. But at the end of the day, I have to be Alvaro Arbeloa. That’s what I bring. Tomorrow, we’ll both want to win. He’s one of the most competitive people I know—but so am I. What matters is those 90 minutes.”
Arbeloa doesn’t just thank Mourinho, though. “Honestly, I’m grateful to every manager I’ve had, from when I was a kid. Caparrós gave me that push to get to Liverpool. Benítez was key for me, and when I got back to Madrid, I worked with some amazing coaches. I’ve been lucky. Football teaches you there’s no single recipe for success. All my coaches were good leaders with big ideas.”
Even though everyone assumes Arbeloa and Mourinho talk all the time, Mourinho said they haven’t really been in touch since Arbeloa took the Madrid job. Arbeloa laughed that off. “We do talk, just not all the time. I mean, I know what Mourinho’s like. His phone must be chaos—you get why he changes his number so much. I try not to bother him unless I really need to. But he’s the kind of friend you could call at three in the morning, and he’d pick up and help with anything. That’s our relationship. We keep in touch, but I try not to be a pest.”
Mourinho also said he couldn’t really give Arbeloa any advice but just hoped he was enjoying himself in the Madrid hot seat. When someone asked Arbeloa if he was comfortable, he didn’t hesitate. “It’s a huge responsibility, no doubt. You can only do this job if you love it. That’s what I’m doing—trying to get everything out of my players. It’s the same with everything in life: you have to enjoy it, even though it’s hard work.”
Right now, Real Madrid are sitting third in their Champions League group. Even if they lose, they’ll probably get a bye to the Round of 16. Win or draw, and it’s pretty much locked in. And if Bayern Munich slip up against PSV, Madrid could even land the second seed.
ALVARO ARBELOA EXPLAIN WHY HUMILITY IS KEY TO OVERCOMING GUARDIOLA’S MAN CITY
Alvaro Arbeloa demands humility at the Etihad as Pep Guardiola cancels training before the Champions League decider.
Tomorrow night, Real Madrid and Manchester City will face off for the third time this season in the UEFA Champions League, this time at the Etihad Stadium.
Their first meeting, during the group stage, ended with Manchester City securing a 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, Real Madrid got their revenge last week in the Round of 16 first leg, winning 3-0.
Now, led by Alvaro Arbeloa, Real Madrid aims to protect that lead and secure its place in the quarterfinals.
Talking about the team’s mindset as they prepare for the match, Arbeloa said the goal remains unchanged from the first leg. They want to win, maintaining the same humility and determination, aware that it won't be an easy task. He emphasised that humility and ambition will be key.
He also spoke about the mental angle: Real Madrid knows the challenge they face and the quality of their opponent. To come out on top, they must focus solely on delivering a high-level performance, showing solidarity, effort, and sacrifice, essentially creating significant problems for Manchester City.
Reflecting on the first leg win without Kylian Mbappe, Arbeloa pointed out how impressive it is for a team to compete well without their top scorer, underlining the overall strength of the squad.
Fortunately for Real Madrid, Mbappe will be available tomorrow. Jude Bellingham has been named in the squad as well, although Arbeloa clarified he won’t play. Still, it’s positive to see Bellingham close to returning; the manager believes he’ll be a leader for the team moving forward.
When asked about the possibility of keeping the current 4-4-2 formation after Mbappe’s return, Arbeloa noted that Mbappe brings unique qualities distinct from players like Brahim. He highlighted Mbappe’s intelligence and ability to exploit spaces, expressing eagerness to have him on the pitch.
Since Arbeloa took charge two months ago, there’s been a notable shift toward trusting youth players from the academy and reserves. He made it clear that no player is untouchable; everyone, including Valverde, Vinicius, and Tchouameni, had to earn their spot on merit. The academy youngsters have stepped up impressively, performing at a high level and contributing significantly.
As injured players return, Arbeloa expects to have more options, aiming to consistently field the strongest eleven suited to each match.
Regarding whether matches like this one influence his future at the club, Arbeloa dismissed the idea. His focus is fully on the team and the fans' excitement. He plans to stay as long as needed and enjoy every moment.
Leading up to the game, Pep Guardiola surprised some by giving Manchester City a day off and cancelling training. Arbeloa wasn’t fazed, pointing out that Guardiola is a seasoned manager with nearly a thousand games under his belt. City’s squad know each other so well, they can practically play without thinking.
On Federico Valverde’s role, Arbeloa praised his versatility and current form. Valverde can play anywhere and is thriving, finding the back of the net and enjoying freedom on the field. With Bellingham's and Mbappe’s eventual return, the team wants to keep this strong version of Valverde going.
Lastly, Arbeloa touched on Arda Guler’s performance in the first leg, especially how he was tasked with marking Erling Haaland during set pieces. He admired Guler’s goal against Elche and acknowledged the importance of crowding Haaland defensively. Arbeloa felt Guler did well and is hopeful they can replicate that effort tomorrow.
REAL MADRID: DISCOVER ARDA GULER’S SENSATIONAL 50-YARD LOB THAT SHOOK THE ENTIRE SANTIAGO BERNABEU
Real Madrid move within one point of Barcelona as Arda Guler scores a legendary lob in a 4-1 victory over Elche.
Real Madrid narrowed the gap to just one point behind Barcelona at the top of La Liga ahead of the Catalans’ upcoming match against Sevilla on Sunday. Atletico Madrid held onto third place with a narrow 1-0 victory over Getafe, despite being down to ten men after Abdel Abqar was sent off for an unfortunate incident involving Alexander Sorloth.
Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde, fresh off a remarkable Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City earlier in the week, continued his fine form by curling a precise shot into the top corner just before halftime. This came after Antonio Rudiger had already put Madrid ahead with a powerful strike. Later, young defender Dean Huijsen added a header to complete the scoring for Alvaro Arbeloa’s squad, who will travel to Manchester City on Tuesday with hopes of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals.
But the standout moment of the evening belonged to Turkish midfielder Guler, who spotted Elche’s goalkeeper Matias Dituro off his line late in the game and lobbed the ball from near the centre circle with remarkable accuracy. “He had hit the bar from there in a previous match, but today he pulled it off. What a goal,” Madrid’s Brahim Díaz commented to the club’s TV channel. Arbeloa also praised the strike, noting that it was the kind of moment worth watching in person.
With a comfortable lead, Arbeloa was able to rest key players such as Vinicius Junior and Valverde, giving valuable minutes to younger talents like 18-year-old winger Daniel Yanez. Yanez delivered a precise cross that set up Huijsen’s header for Madrid’s third goal. Arbeloa reflected on bringing these players on at the Bernabeu, recalling that he had coached them since they were early teens and describing the moment as a dream come true.
Despite the scoreline, Elche remain in a difficult position, suffering their 11th consecutive league game without a win and facing the threat of dropping into the relegation zone. Madrid, energised after their Champions League success, gradually dismantled Elche’s early resistance. When Dituro saved Valverde’s free-kick but failed to clear the rebound, Rudiger pounced to score in the 39th minute. Valverde then added another just before the break, showcasing his ability to find space and precision shooting.
A late slip from Madrid substitute Manuel Angel resulted in an own goal as he attempted to intercept a cross, briefly narrowing the gap. Still, Guler’s stunning lob re-established Madrid’s lead from a long distance, sealing the match with a remarkable finish. Meanwhile, Madrid continues to manage absences, including Jude Bellingham’s injury, while hoping that Kylian Mbappé could return soon after a knee sprain. Arbeloa described the players’ commitment as exceptional but acknowledged there is still room to improve as the season progresses.
Must Read
