After Champions League blow, Spain tips Arbeloa’s Real Madrid successor | OneFootball

The blow suffered in Lisbon shook Real Madrid once again. The 4-2 defeat against Benfica in the last round of the Champions League regular phase left the Merengue out of the top eight and forced to play the playoffs, a result that set off alarms at the White House and reopened the debate about Álvaro Arbeloa's continuity as head coach.

Xabi Alonso's departure had left a scenario full of uncertainty, and Arbeloa took over as a transitional solution. However, after five matches in charge of the first team, the balance is not entirely convincing: three victories, two defeats, elimination in the Copa del Rey, and a Champions League finish well below expectations.

At the white club, the bar is always set high, and the latest results have begun to erode support for the former full-back. Although he seemed to have room to hold onto the position, the setback against Benfica has cast doubt on his future once again.

In this context, rumors have started circulating in Spain about possible alternatives for the Merengue bench. According to a local commentator, one of the names on the list is Unai Emery, the current coach of Aston Villa.

The Spanish coach is having a great time in the Premier League, where he manages the team of Emiliano Martínez and Emiliano Buendía. He has a contract with the English club until June 2028, and his departure would not be easy, as it would involve costly negotiations. However, Emery has already been in a similar situation in the past when he left Villarreal mid-competition to make the leap to the Premier League.

In the current season, the coach has managed 32 matches with Aston Villa, with 21 victories, four draws, and only seven defeats, numbers that reflect high effectiveness in one of the most demanding leagues in the world.

For now, Arbeloa will continue at the helm of Real Madrid. The Merengue's next commitment will be this Sunday, February 1st, when they host Rayo Vallecano for the 22nd round of LaLiga. In the local tournament, the team is in second place with 51 points, just one behind Barcelona, the championship leader.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.