Alvaro Arbeloa talks Pitarch, Mastantuono, Mbappe, Bellingham after Real Madrid 0-1 Getafe | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s defeat to Osasuna in their last league outing saw them give away the lead in La Liga to Barcelona less than one week after securing it, delivering a blow to the team’s position of strength in the league.

Last night, they slumped to their second straight defeat in La Liga as they lost 0-1 to Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu with a relatively toothless performance.

The men in white were indeed without several big names through injury across the field, but it is clear that the injury situation cannot be used as an excuse for a club of Real Madrid’s stature, more so against Getafe in La Liga.

Speaking to the media after the game, Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa was critical of his team, yet optimistic that there was enough room for a turnaround in their situation.

“There are 36 points left, and we have no other goal than to add the 36 points.

“No one gives up here because this is Real Madrid and we are going to fight until the end,” he began.

On the 90 minutes against Getafe

Real Madrid lost to Getafe at home. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

He then praised his team for creating more chances than Getafe but also accepted that they have a lot to do and work on to improve.

“We have had clearer chances than Getafe has had. It is a game that we can improve but we have had several opportunities that we deserved to have scored a goal.

“Getafe have done a great job, and nothing happened that we did not know was going to happen,” he added.

The manager then partially blamed the referee for the constant interruptions in play and how he encouraged Getafe’s style, which denied his team any momentum.

“The game has had many interruptions because the referee has allowed it. [It’s] not a criticism of Getafe because they played what he [the referee] allowed.”

On the team’s situation

Arbeloa was then asked about the team’s mood after losing a second straight game in La Liga, and he admitted that it was not an easy situation to be in and took full accountability.

“There is not much hope when you lose like this but here no one throws La Liga.

Arbeloa remains optimistic. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

“I’m not going to put the excuse on my players’ effort. If there is one responsible for the defeat, it is me.”

The manager remained optimistic that injury returnees would help his team’s chances significantly, but concurrently refused to use that as an excuse for a poor performance against Getafe.

“Yes, I see that we have great players who are going to recover and who are going to help us a lot.

“I understand the criticism, but today I really think having played badly, worse or like normal, we deserved to score more goals than Getafe.

“We can’t make the excuse of Bellingham and Mbappe because we have a great squad,” he added.

On Pitarch and Mastantuono

Towards the end of his press conference, Arbeloa praised academy star Thiago Pitarch, whom he handed a start on the night.

Franco Mastantuono was sent off. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

“I think Thiago has played a great game and a great effort. It didn’t seem like it was his first starter game at Real Madrid because of the personality he has shown.

“He has to be very happy with his performance. His substitution was not for his performance, the opposite,” he added.

Finally, he commented on the late red card shown to Franco Mastantuono for dissent, to which he clearly expressed his disappointment.

“These are things that can’t happen. We can’t have this kind of action. I don’t know what he said to the referee but it can’t happen.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo