Álvaro Arbeloa: “For me as a Madridista, Mourinho is number one”

VALDEBEBAS, SPAIN - MAY 09: Alvaro Arbeloa, head coach of Real Madrid, attends his press conference during the training day of Real Madrid ahead the Spanish League, LaLiga EA Sports, football match against FC Barcelona at Ciudad Deportiva Real Madrid on may 09, 2026, in Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images

Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa openly spoke about his potential replacement in a press conference before taking on Sevilla as he said, “I don’t understand the whole “unruly locker room” thing; I don’t agree with it. The day the club makes a decision about next season’s coach, they’ll do so when they deem it appropriate. For me, as a player and a Madridista, Mourinho is number one. I thought that a month ago, and I’ll continue to think it. He is and always will be ‘one of us.’ If he’s here next season, I’ll be very happy to see him here at home.”

Arbeloa on Sevilla

Sevilla has won its last three games; they’re doing really well under Luis García. He’s managed to turn the team around. The Pizjuán is always exciting for us because of the atmosphere that builds up when Madrid plays there. They have one of the best fan bases in Spain. It’s going to be a tough battle once again.

Arbeloa on Mbappé

“I was just coming up here and I just saw him. I told him to stay calm, that I’d take care of it. I understand that these things can make the news. Everything he said, we’d already discussed before; I take it more in stride. I understand how players feel when they don’t play. Kylian wasn’t happy the other day, and I like that. For me, it’s something much more normal than what’s been made of it. The best thing would have been for him to play a bit in the second half; perhaps without tomorrow’s match, the situation would have been different. But that’s all. I take what’s happened these past few days in stride. My relationship with Mbappé remains the same.”