After three consecutive wins under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa, Real Madrid appears to be back in form heading into their last Champions League group match against Benfica. Antonio Pintus, the fitness coach, has returned to the team following a seven-month absence during the Xabi Alonso period. The two are receiving praise from the local media for what appears to be an improvement in attitude, if nothing else.
This weekend, Los Blancos played well against Villarreal, giving up just one shot on goal against the Yellow Submarine. Kylian Mbappe made the game-winning goal in the closing third. Compared to his predecessor, Arbeloa seems to be getting more out of players like Franco Mastantuono, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior.
But the Bernabeu’s finest players have also had an influence on Real Madrid’s stars. Cadena SER claims that President Florentino Perez has also done his part to “motivate” his team and has spoken with a number of celebrities to ask for an improved attitude under Arbeloa.
Perez warned Bellingham & four other Real Madrid players
The poisonous nature of the situation under Alonso is demonstrated by the necessity of Perez’s involvement. The Basque coach, who came from Bayer Leverkusen with a good reputation, only held the position for a few months before being fired in January. The squad’s heavyweights allegedly chafed at his inflexible tactical methods and perceived micromanagement throughout his tenure.
Senior players reportedly felt constrained by Alonso’s tactics and missed the autonomy they had under Carlo Ancelotti. With losses to Liverpool, Manchester City, and Celta Vigo adding to the manager’s strain, the environment at Valdebebas worsened as the team’s performance declined. A 3-2 loss against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup was the last straw, leading the board to conclude that the initiative had failed.
Gareth Bale, a former Madrid player, even commented on Alonso’s firing, saying that he didn’t “pamper the egos” in the dressing room, which is a must for success at the Bernabeu. The squad appeared disorganised and sluggish due to the stars’ lack of support, which made the dugout change necessary.
