Álvaro Arbeloa: “Valverde and Tchouameni deserve for us to turn the page”

Arbeloa on Clásico expectations

“I’m expecting a great match against a great rival, a team that’s been performing exceptionally well. And we’re really looking forward to playing the match that draws the most attention in the world. We’re going in with ambition to win.”

Arbeloa on a sense of responsibility

“I am responsible for everything that happens at Real Madrid.”

Arbeloa on whether it’s as important as the media say

“I had a teammate who hit another with a golf club. For me, the most serious thing is that what happens in the locker room should stay in the locker room. The incident was just bad luck. And we have to put it behind us.”

Arbeloa on whether the players have too much power

“I’m not quite sure what you mean. I’ll say the same thing I said two minutes ago: when a Real Madrid player doesn’t play, it’s not for any reason unrelated to sports. I shouldn’t be upset with the one who doesn’t play, but rather because I’m choosing the one who doesn’t deserve it. Many lies have been told about players who’ve had issues with me… and they’re absolute lies. I tell people they can rest easy with this locker room, with these decisions. Being at this club without winning isn’t easy, I know; we’ve gone through very difficult situations, like so many years without winning a European Cup—12 years passed between the Novena and the Décima. We’ve gone through rough patches. But we must do this together: the fans, the club… no one is better prepared to turn this situation around than our president. He has managed to bring Real Madrid back to where it belongs. And with all that, we must fight to bring Real Madrid back to where it belongs.”

Arbeloa on whether he could’ve stopped the incident

“My office isn’t inside the Real Madrid locker room. I wish I could be responsible for everything that happens and control it all. If the consequence of this situation is that the coach should have stopped all of this… I accept that. It’s an unpleasant situation; it should serve as an example for everyone, and that’s all there is to it. Turn the page, learn from it, and don’t forget that tomorrow there’s a Barcelona-Real Madrid match.”

Arbeloa on the locker room

“It’s definitely a healthy one. It’s not easy to go two seasons without a title, and as I always say, to be a Real Madrid player, you have to be very ambitious. Of course, we have to do things better; change, reflect… but I see a healthy locker room, I really mean that. One that’s ready to win again. I’m sure that next year, everyone, with much more experience… because this squad is much younger than the one I was part of seven years ago. But I’m sure everyone will grow, and next year, with a much better understanding of what this crest represents, nothing in these past four months makes me say I’m not happy and proud of this locker room.”

Arbeloa on Mbappé going to Italy on vacation

“So many questions… Right? Look, anyone who wants to take out of context the fact that a player leaves smiling after a training session, well, I’ll say it again, is taking things out of context. Just like what happened with Carreras at Espanyol’s stadium. I can only stand up for him, for his work, and the way he’s treating me. When he’s played, it’s because he’s earned it, and when he hasn’t, it’s because someone else has earned it. Mbappé made a huge effort to play for Real Madrid; we all know that. He had to give up a lot to fulfill his dream, because we’ve all seen him as a kid in his Real Madrid tracksuit. I feel that I have my authority… perfectly. Real Madrid players, like any others, have to feel that the coach has authority, regardless of his name. You have to respect that. That’s the most important thing as a player.”

Arbeloa on leaks

“I’ll say it again, because maybe I wasn’t very clear: I think that leaking things that have happened in the locker room is a betrayal of Real Madrid. Of this crest.”

Arbeloa on whether Mourinho is ‘one of us’

“Yes.”

Arbeloa on where the leaks are coming from

“No, I don’t work for the CIA or anything like that. I’m not accusing my players, or anyone; I can’t do that. There are a lot of people at Real Madrid, and I’m not here to point an accusing finger at anyone. What happens with my players stays between them and me.”

Arbeloa on what could’ve avoided an incident like this

“The only thing that concerns me and that I reflect on is how I could have made my team win more games. There have been difficult moments over the past few months. I know the situation we faced right after I arrived and that we won some very tough games. We beat Manchester City, who had just beaten Arsenal in a cup final and thrashed Chelsea 4-0… and we won both matches. We beat Atlético Madrid. I certainly feel that against Bayern… there were things beyond your control. I often wonder what I could have done to help us win some La Liga matches, but that’s what I reflect on. On how I could have helped them more to win.”

Arbeloa on Tchouameni’s availability

“Tomorrow, Tchouameni will be in the squad.”

Arbeloa on the tension reflecting results

“I don’t quite understand the question. I don’t know. There’s been a lot of criticism that we didn’t talk more about soccer, about tactical aspects. Since I’ve been here, I’ve placed a lot of emphasis on this, and although what I said last week drew a lot of attention, it’s what Real Madrid has always stood for: effort, camaraderie, ambition, passion… and that must always be demonstrated. There’s no excuse for us, as a team, not to demonstrate that.”