Real Madrid boss continues to gripe about Champions League loss to Bayern Munich

TL;DR

Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa expressed frustration over the team's elimination from the Champions League by Bayern Munich, claiming they were 'deprived' of a semifinal spot. Despite the loss, he emphasized the need to focus on winning their remaining matches.

Key points

Real Madrid was eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Álvaro Arbeloa claimed the team was 'deprived' of a semifinal spot.
Bayern Munich was superior in both matches against Real Madrid.

Mentioned in this story

Álvaro Arbeloa

Real MadridBayern Munich

MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 15: Michael Olise of FC Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Real Madrid CF at Football Arena Munich on April 15, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) | Getty Images Football fans endured about 48 hours of complaining after watching Real Madrid be eliminated from the Champions League by Bayern Munich last week. Even neutral fans were pretty taxed and worn out from the persistent bellyaching. Like a bad 80’s infomercial, though, Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa is essentially saying, “But wait! There’s more!” Arbeloa said that there is a sense that his team was “deprived” of what Real Madrid might consider a right — a spot in the Champions League semifinals. “The feeling I had on the street is that we were deprived of being in the semifinals. That’s what I’ve been able to sense,” Arbeloa said (as captured by Fabrizio Romano). “I’ve felt the pride that Real Madrid fans have for the team’s performance in Munich.” For the record, Real Madrid was good, but Bayern Munich was better in both games, so the Bavarians moved on to the next round. That is just how it works. Deprived is an interesting word in this instance, though. According to , the definition for deprived is as follows:

Q&A

What did Álvaro Arbeloa say about Real Madrid's Champions League loss?

Álvaro Arbeloa stated that he felt the team was 'deprived' of a spot in the semifinals and expressed pride in the team's performance despite the loss.

How did Bayern Munich perform against Real Madrid in the Champions League?

Bayern Munich outperformed Real Madrid in both legs of the quarter-final match, leading to Real Madrid's elimination from the tournament.

What are Real Madrid's next steps after the Champions League loss?

Álvaro Arbeloa emphasized the importance of winning the seven remaining matches of the season following their Champions League exit.