Alvaro Arbeloa spoke to the media after Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday night. He was asked about Fede Valverde’s brilliant performance, as well as the team’s performance, about which he said: “This was the match where we stuck to our plan the most. We were a true team, which is what we need to win any game, whether it’s against City or Elche, and that’s what I need the players to believe. To have a collective mentality, to know what to do with or without
the ball. They are footballers with exceptional quality, but they are even better when they share the same idea and execute it like they did today. I’m very happy for Valverde. I’m a real pain with him; I don’t know if he’s going to end up hating me with all the criticism I give him. He’s the Juanito of the 21st century; he perfectly embodies what Real Madrid is all about. The night he had tonight fills me with pride. It’s a reward for so much sacrifice. He deserves it so much, to be leading the team as he is, and I’m very happy for him.”
Arbeloa on the game
“Better than you expected, right? I’m very happy for how much the Bernabéu and the players enjoyed it. They deserve it, for all the suffering and hard work. It’s clear that the feeling from outside wasn’t one of great confidence in this team. We’ve shown that we are Real Madrid; we should never count ourselves out.”
Arbeloa on Real Madrid’s resurgence
“You look at the team Pep fielded and what they brought on in the second half, and we’re talking about one of the best squads in Europe. They have 20 fantastic players, at an incredibly high level. We, on the other hand, are missing a lot of key players, the ones who make the difference. We are Real Madrid, we are capable of anything and we are not inferior to anyone. I believe everything I say, and today it was clear that sometimes I can be right.”
Arbeloa on where Valverde actually played tonight
“Everything. We wanted him to be more aggressive and able to threaten the space behind City’s back line, so if the center-backs jumped out, he would cover for them. They helped Trent a lot defensively with a tremendous effort. The great thing about having a player like him is that he can do many things well in every position, but the important thing is what he does and what he transmits to all his teammates.
“It doesn’t matter where you put him, I almost get tired of talking to him. He’s the Juanito of the 21st century. Everything a Real Madrid player should be is Valverde, he deserves a night like this.”
Arbeloa on Ferland Mendy
“It’s early, but it’s unlikely he’ll be ready for Tuesday. I thank Ferland because we were taking a risk, but he’s an exceptional player and has demonstrated his ability as a footballer and the level he possesses.”
Arbeloa on what the result means
“I’m happy for the fans, who deserved a night like this in the Champions League. I think they really enjoyed themselves against City. And also for the players, for what they’re putting up with given the pressure we face. It seems like we’re celebrating, but we still have 90 minutes of suffering ahead of us in Manchester.”
Arbeloa on Vinicius Jr’s penalty
“Vini is the penalty taker and I’m very happy with how the Bernabéu reacted and how they applauded him.
“I really liked the reaction of the Bernabéu crowd, if anyone recovers from setbacks it’s Vinicius.”
Arbeloa on his game plan
“We knew very well how City plays, how Pep plays, what he’s looking for. We closed down many passing lanes, we tried not to press high up the pitch, which is what they try to do to get behind you. And we wanted to hurt them with the ball; if we turned them around, we could hurt them, and that’s what happened.
“To win, too, which is what Real Madrid plays for. It seems easy to win, but if there’s any team that always struggles to win, it’s Real Madrid because of the motivation their opponents always have.”
Arbeloa on Thibaut Courtois
“I never like those comparisons, but I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything like Courtois. He’s like an extra ball he gives you in every match. We’re incredibly lucky to have him in goal. We know the opposition will have to do a lot of things right and take almost impossible shots to score.”
Arbeloa on Thiago Pitarch
“I understand that putting an 18-year-old in a tie like this might raise some doubts, but the effort he puts in, his commitment… The fans gave him a well-deserved ovation. He represents Real Madrid’s youth academy, which we need to value much more, if not from the outside, then from within. It’s very important to have homegrown players in the dressing room who know what Real Madrid is all about, like Carvajal. The ovation was a great reward for his performance.
“I congratulated him on his performance in the round of 16 against City. We have to value the youth academy players. They didn’t cost 30, 40, or 50 million, but they feel a connection to Real Madrid and they have the ability. It’s a source of pride to see them compete and play, to see them show the world what they are capable of.”
Arbeloa on whether this match could be a turning point
“I’m not a fortune teller. The other day I was talking to them after the Getafe game, and I mentioned Groundhog Day, and nobody knew what it was. I’m from a different generation. Nobody had seen ‘Groundhog Day.’ Asencio told me it premiered ten years before he was born. I keep emphasizing to them that they’re very good, but we have to be a really good team, knowing how to hurt the opponent and defend against all their strengths. This is about being a team, fighting, and believing in that idea. The other day in Vigo was a big step because of how we played and how we won, but there’s another match on Saturday, and we have to prove ourselves again. Hopefully, it will be a turning point, and on Saturday we’ll go out against Elche knowing what we have to do to win the game.”
Arbeloa on parallels to the 2016 Champions League run
“Absolutely not. We’ve just won a match. It’s a great night for the Bernabéu, for the lads, but at this club we celebrate titles, not victories that haven’t gotten us anywhere so far. We have an opponent who will make us pay if we relax even a little. Time to recover for a very tough battle in Manchester.”
Arbeloa on the second leg
“We’re going to analyze the match, see where they created chances against us. But for me, the idea is the same: fight every minute, from the first to the 90th, and hurt them with the ball, forcing them to attack. It’s a shame we didn’t score a few more goals, but the players did exceptionally well. Now it’s time to rest and focus on Elche.”
