Arbeloa talks Ceballos, Gonzalo Garcia, Mastantuono, Mourinho ahead of Espanyol vs Real Madrid | OneFootball

Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa addressed the media ahead of a decisive La Liga clash against Espanyol, with the title race hanging in the balance and pressure mounting on Los Blancos.

Real Madrid head into the fixture knowing that anything less than a win could effectively hand the advantage to Barcelona. 

Arbeloa made it clear that his full focus is on securing all three points in what he expects to be a demanding encounter.

“It’s always a tricky ground, with a great set of fans, a great team and a fantastic manager; their results haven’t been as good as their performances. 

“I’ve always enjoyed watching them. I have a lot of respect for them.”

Refusing to discuss Ceballos situation

Arbeloa refused to speak on Ceballos. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

One of the key talking points has been the situation involving Dani Ceballos, but Arbeloa avoided going into detail, choosing instead to keep internal matters private.

He stated, “I don’t get involved in public debates about situations involving my players. 

“I’ve been in this dressing room for over 20 years and the first thing I learnt is that what happens in the dressing room stays in the dressing room. 

“I’ve stuck to that for 20 years and I’ll keep doing so.”

Shuts down Mourinho return

Speculation around Jose Mourinho potentially returning to Real Madrid has also been circulating, but Arbeloa was quick to shift the focus back to the present.

He made his priorities clear, saying, 

“I understand the questions, but my only answer is that the future is tomorrow, the match, and winning the three points. Every match is everything to me. 

“It’s the most important thing.”

Squad mentality under scrutiny

Questions have also been raised about leadership within the squad, especially given their recent performances. 

Arbeloa acknowledged the team’s youth but insisted that personality and experience are still present.

“We’re a very young team; that’s the average age. But I’ve been talking all this time about great players, with personality and experience. 

“I’m sure there have been situations we need to handle better, but a young squad can make those youthful mistakes. 

“But there are leaders and players with great personalities.”

Arbeloa backs Gonzalo and Mastantuono

Franco Mastantuono is facing uncertainty at Real Madrid. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The Real Madrid manager also spoke about the futures of young talents, including Gonzalo García and Franco Mastantuono.

On Gonzalo, Arbeloa highlighted both his ability and current situation, stating, “Those are decisions for the player and the club to make. They will decide. 

“I know Gonzalo well; he has exceptional ability. He’s playing less than he deserves, but I see him working hard; he has a great future ahead of him. 

“It’s a position where he faces huge competition, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t doing well; when I’ve needed him, he’s delivered.”

He had similar praise for Mastantuono, adding, “It’s the same story, but in his case I have to say he’s a lad who’s working really hard. 

“When he plays, he’s keen to show what he’s made of – exactly what Madrid signed him for. He could be playing for the youth team, but he’s got a lot of talent and maturity; he doesn’t seem like an 18-year-old. 

“He’s got an extraordinary future ahead of him, thanks to his talent, his commitment, his mentality. 

“Argentinians fit in well here at Real Madrid. Hopefully, we’ll be able to enjoy watching him for many years to come.”

Demanding tactical improvement

Beyond individual players, Arbeloa admitted that the team as a whole must improve, especially in terms of structure and game management.

Explaining the issues, he said, “The results are far from what Madrid should be achieving. These days, you don’t beat anyone just by stepping off the bus. 

“We need to improve a lot, as a team. With the talent we have, we can’t just keep the ball on the ground and play individually. 

“We need a plan, a structure, a way to break down the opposition… It requires a different mindset and we’ve paid for it with points.”

Lastly, with Barcelona closing in on the title, there is also the possibility of Real Madrid having to give a guard of honour. 

Arbeloa, however, dismissed that as a distraction. He concluded, “It’s not my main motivation. 

“It’s winning the three points; that’s what we need. That’s my motivation.”

Source: AS