Arbeloa hails Madrid's mentality while revealing European champion count in squad
Real Madrid's youth team coach praised his players' fighting spirit after a dramatic late win against Rayo Vallecano, highlighting the European pedigree in his squad.
Real Madrid’s youth team coach Álvaro Arbeloa fronted up to the media still wearing the battle scars of an emotional rollercoaster at the Bernabéu, where his side snatched a dramatic late victory to keep their title hopes alive.
European pedigree runs deep
In what might be the most telling comment from his post-match analysis, Arbeloa revealed the extraordinary European pedigree running through his squad: “I have an extraordinary squad. There are 17 players who have been European champions in the last year and a half.”
That’s a proper Bobby Dazzler of a statistic that shows the winning mentality embedded in Madrid’s DNA, from the first team down to the youth ranks.
Bernabéu’s role in the comeback
Arbeloa was quick to acknowledge the 12th man’s contribution to the result:
“I’ve seen fans who carried us to victory. Perhaps without them, we wouldn’t have won. The players are better when the Bernabéu is with them.”
He also showed respect for the occasional whistles from the stands: “I’ll always respect the Bernabéu crowd. I understand where we’re coming from and where we were.”
Vini and Bellingham concerns
While praising Vinicius Jr’s performance, including “a great goal” and creating dangerous situations in wide areas, Arbeloa couldn’t provide clarity on Jude Bellingham’s condition after the Englishman was forced off:
“We don’t know anything about Jude yet. He had been making great efforts, but I have an extraordinary squad.”
The Madrid standard
Despite the victory, Arbeloa was honest about the improvements needed:
“This is Real Madrid and we need to do more than other teams to win. Valencia will surely play their game of the season at home, and to win it we’ll have to do very well.”
When questioned about the pressure for results, Arbeloa reminded journalists of his understanding of the club’s demands: “You’re lucky to have a coach in front of you who doesn’t need anyone to explain what Real Madrid is.”
The victory gives Madrid’s youngsters a brief respite as they continue their development under a coach who clearly understands the weight of the badge they represent.