Real Madrid Castilla manager Alvaro Arbeloa did not hold back in his assessment of his side’s 1-0 defeat to Getafe on Monday night, but his harshest words were reserved for one of his own players.
‘He Let Us Down’: Arbeloa Doesn’t Hold Back on Mastantuono After Getafe
While Arbeloa defended his team’s overall performance, insisting they created enough chances to win the game, he launched a stinging attack on Franco Mastantuono following the youngster’s late sending off for dissent.
“It’s unacceptable,” Arbeloa fumed when discussing the incident. “The Mastantuono thing cannot happen.”
The defeat leaves Real Madrid four points behind Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table.
Arbeloa remains defiant that his side can still close the gap, but the suspension of key players for the upcoming trip to Celta Vigo has complicated matters.
“We have 36 points left to play for. This is Real Madrid, nobody gives up here,” Arbeloa stated.
However, the manager confirmed that Mastantuono’s red card, along with bookings for Alvaro Carreras and Dean Huijsen, will rule the trio out of the crucial fixture on Friday.
Arbeloa clarified that he has no issue with the cautions picked up by Carreras and Huijsen, describing them as “part of the game.”
But the nature of Mastantuono’s dismissal clearly angered the coach. On the pitch, Arbeloa felt his side did enough to secure three points against a defensively stubborn Getafe side.
“We had clearer chances than Getafe,” he argued, pointing to opportunities from Vinicius Jr., Antonio Rudiger, and Rodrygo.
“We knew the kind of game we were going to play. Nothing happened that we didn’t know was going to happen.”
Despite the loss, Arbeloa refused to blame his players’ effort, instead placing the responsibility on his own shoulders. “If anyone is responsible for the defeat, it’s me,” he admitted.
Arbeloa also had minor criticism for the officiating, noting that the referee allowed a game focused on constant interruptions. However, he conceded that Getafe simply played within the rules.
Real Madrid now faces a quick turnaround. They travel to Celta Vigo on Friday needing a win to put pressure on Barcelona before the Catalans face Athletic Club.
Following that, attention turns to a heavyweight Champions League clash with Manchester City.
