Valencia coach not taking Real Madrid lightly despite recent problems: ‘Never doubt their level’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid will travel to Mestalla tomorrow as they take on Valencia on Matchday 23 of the 2025/26 La Liga, aiming to clinch an important victory.

The Merengues are under pressure following their recent performances, having lost to Benfica in the UEFA Champions League and just about managed to escape with a victory over Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.

Questions are being asked of new manager Alvaro Arbeloa already, a little over a month after he took over the reins of the team from Xabi Alonso.

Valencia coach remains wary of Real Madrid

Despite Real Madrid not going through their best period, Valencia manager Carlos Corberan made it clear that his team are not taking the Spanish capital giants lightly.

“We will never doubt the level Real Madrid will have on the pitch, regardless of the time one coach or another has had to work with them,” he said.

Instead, Corberan stressed that he is focused on what his team can do to get the best outcome at Mestalla.

“We are aware of the demands of the match, and being aware of that demand is, for me, an important and positive point. From there, we are focused on ourselves and also on Mestalla continuing to be a difficult and uncomfortable ground for Real Madrid,” he said.

“That depends a lot on how we approach the match, on the intensity and effort we put in, knowing that Mestalla is our home ground and that the more we show them on the pitch, the better the response we get. So we are focused on what depends on us.”

Carlos Corberan not taking Real Madrid for granted. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Real Madrid go into the match with some notable absences as Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, and Eder Militao. On whether the missing players affect Valencia’s preparation, Corberan said:

“We know the level of our opponents beyond specific absences. The player who plays is practically as good as the one who doesn’t.

“We’re focusing on what depends on us: giving the fans desire, passion, and effort, knowing that there will be moments to resist and persevere.”

On being asked if the Real Madrid game at Mestalla is the biggest on Valencia’s calendar, the Los Che coach replied:

“Every match we play is the most important match because it’s the next one. When this one is over, the most important one will be the next. That’s how we always see it.”

Finally, talking about the differences in the way Los Blancos play between former manager Xabi Alonso and new head coach Arbeloa, Corberan explained:

“They still maintain an essence based on speed, transition and counterattack. They remain extremely dangerous.

“There are different defensive nuances, with a clearer structure in their own half and a different defensive organisation, but the overall identity remains the same.”

Source: MARCA