Arbeloa tightens control on Real Madrid’s non-internationals with subtle change | OneFootball

The majority of Real Madrid’s squad is currently on duty with their respective national teams, and only seven players and four injured stars remain at the club facilities during the ongoing international break.

Apart from the injured Thibaut Courtois, Ferland Mendy, Dani Ceballos and Rodrygo, seven players, namely Andriy Lunin, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Alvaro Carreras, Fran Garcia, Raul Asencio, and Eder Militao, are still in Madrid.

Alvaro Arbeloa, needless to say, has not been giving them an easy time and has looked to utilise the break to keep them fit and ready for the business end of the season.

Currently, however, they are enjoying a short break.

Break cut short

As reported by MARCA in a recent report, Xabi Alonso used to give non-international three days off to recover, rest, and make the most of the hiatus from club football.

Arbeloa, however, is tightening the screws and has cut that vacation short to just two days.

Arbeloa has made a subtle change at Real Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

He has decided to reduce the number of days off for non-internationals to increase their workload for the final phase of the season.

With the internationals likely to return fatigued after the break, Arbeloa may have it in his plan to feature more of the players who stayed back against Mallorca immediately after the break.

After all, Bayern Munich is the second game after club football returns, and he will want all his players rested and raring for that massive clash.

The only issue for Arbeloa, however, is that he has no midfielders or forwards available under his command currently, with all seven players at the facilities either goalkeepers or defenders.

His approach after the break, needless to say, will be interesting to follow.