Álvaro Arbeloa appeared in the Valdebebas press room at 1:41 p.m. He did so accompanied by Emilio Butragueño to answer 18 questions for 21 minutes. Before, the director of Institutional Relations wanted to give love to the new coach, and also to … Xabi, the one fired: «It is an enormous challenge, Álvaro, but you know perfectly the values of the institution and its demands. Just as you achieved success as a player, now we expect it as a coach. And we are going to help you. And I don’t want to forget Xabi. He knows that this is and will always be his home. You have everyone’s love and we wish you the best.
Diplomatic words from Emilio as an appetizer to Arbeloa’s first reflections. Slow tone, fixed gaze, staunch defense of the locker room, affection for Xabi, also for Pintus, and mentions of Mourinho and Zidane. Nothing was missing in the presentation of the new Madrid coach: «Yesterday afternoon they called me minutes before the official statement to tell me that Xabi and Madrid have parted ways and that I would take the position. I am aware of the responsibility and the beautiful company that lies ahead of me,” said the Salamanca coach.
Arbeloa’s promotion entails the goodbye of one of his best friends, but Álvaro denies that this will influence their relationship: «I spoke with Xabi and you all know the relationship that unites me with him, how much I appreciate him and love him. It has been and will continue to be so. Nothing has been put before anything here. He has wished me the best, just as I would have done if it had been the other way around. The friendship relationship is above the rest.
Arbeloa did not clarify anything about his contract. Asked if his position is interim or something more, he assured that he has been at Madrid for twenty years and that he will be at the club until the entity decides. The new coach wanted to put the focus on the players and their value, just what Florentino also thinks: «We already saw how hard this team worked in the Super Cup final. We have guys willing to do anything, and let us not forget that there are players here with six European Cups, that this is soon forgotten. So I’m not worried about staff management. We have great professionals and good people who want to do it well. “There is no one more interested in winning titles than the Madrid players.”
One of them, Vinicius, has been one of the reasons for Xabi’s dismissal. Their bad relationship, graphically captured with the mess of the League classic, marked a before and after in the short Alonso era. Arbeloa defended him staunchly when this newspaper asked him about his attitude in that Madrid-Barça game: «How would I have reacted? I don’t put myself in scenarios that haven’t happened. I am lucky to have Vini, who is a player loved by all the fans. We all saw the Super Cup final and that is the Vini we want to see. He who enjoys, he who laughs, he who dances…”
Enjoying is what Zidane did for Real Madrid in the Frenchman’s first stage as white coach. Arbeloa turned to him to talk about the club’s demands: «Madrid has 123 years of history and it is difficult for them to ever recognize that they have played well. There are coaches who have won three Champions Leagues because they went home to water the garden,” he commented ironically. Irony that he did not use when talking about how he wants to play: «I am clear about what it means to play well and what the fans of their team want to see. “The style at Madrid is to win, win and win.”
Mourinho was also a protagonist in the Valdebebas press room. In two weeks they will face each other in the Champions League, in that Benfica-Real Madrid: «I knew that this question would not be missing. I haven’t spoken to him yet. For me it was a privilege and an honor to be coached by Mourinho. He was a person who influenced me a lot, but I am Álvaro Arbeloa. “I’m not afraid of failure, but if I wanted to be Mourinho I would fail miserably.”
Praise that he also had for Pintus, once again head of the physical area as Florentino wanted: «It is a privilege to have him on the coaching staff. He has five European Cups and is one of the best in the world. “He knows many players very well, the players know his method and it will be a pleasure to work with him and be by his side.”
