Speaking at an event organized by La Liga and Airbnb, former Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes addressed the club’s current situation, the recent coaching change, and the team’s prospects in Europe.
Morientes began by contextualizing the noise surrounding Madrid’s campaign.
“Real Madrid’s situation is out of the ordinary, that’s just how Real Madrid is. It’s a club with a huge impact, and I think the season itself is almost at the end of February; the most important part is still to come, and that’s what
we need to analyze: what’s left between now and the end.”
For the former striker, the timing matters. With March, April, and May looming, Morientes made it clear that this is when Madrid traditionally hits its stride — and why it would be premature to rule them out of anything, particularly in the Champions League.
“Yes, of course Real Madrid can win the Champions League. As I was saying before, it’s only the end of February. There’s so much of the season left, and the best is yet to come. Now there’s the second leg against Benfica, they’re well on their way, and then comes what’s really important. If Real Madrid can’t compete for the Champions League, imagine the others. We’re talking about 22 or 23 top-level players. The tricky thing in the world of football is getting all or most of them to their best form in March, April, and May. That’s the job of the coach, the fitness coach, and the staff, so that when the important matches are played, a team like Real Madrid is usually ready.”
Morientes also addressed the mid-season coaching change, acknowledging that such decisions are rarely simple — but often necessary in elite football environments.
“Real Madrid’s situation after the coaching change.. It’s normal; there’s been a coaching change mid-season because people have to make decisions in these kinds of situations, and the final evaluation will have to be made at the end of the season when the team has either achieved or failed to achieve the objectives set at the beginning. The most important thing in a project is to start and finish with the initial idea, but this is like any business or brand; the results dictate the path, and at that moment, the people making the decisions felt it wasn’t the right thing to do, which is why there was a change. But I think both Xabi Alonso and Arbeloa are fortunate to be sitting on the Real Madrid bench and making the right decisions to achieve the objectives.”
On the immediate challenge against Benfica, Morientes was optimistic, particularly with the second leg set to be played at the Santiago Bernabéu.
“The Real Madrid – Benfica tie is practically in our favor, very much so. I think it’s a real uphill battle for Benfica because it’s not easy to play at the Bernabéu, and I know that from personal experience. As the end approaches, that’s when Madrid starts to show their best form and the players find their rhythm. Vinicius is in a special moment; I think he was the difference-maker for Madrid in Pamplona, while Mbappé, after his injury, hasn’t quite found his best form. In the end, these are the kinds of players who make the difference. I’m not going to delve into Vinicius’s personal or professional life, but as a Madrid and football fan, I like great players, and Vinicius is undoubtedly one of them.”
Morientes also used the opportunity to highlight the importance of Real Madrid’s academy and voiced strong support for giving young players opportunities — especially under a coach like Álvaro Arbeloa, who knows the system intimately.
“We all come from the youth academy. I’m a huge fan of Benito Floro because he looked to the youth academy and gave a 16- or 17-year-old a chance. All coaches should rely on the youth academy, and especially Arbeloa, who knows them particularly well. When you arrive at a club and don’t know the youth academy, it’s difficult to take a chance on a 16, 17, or 18-year-old, but when a coach has dedicated his short professional career to Real Madrid’s youth academy, obviously… Every time he gives a youth academy player a chance, I’m convinced it’s because he deserves it, because Arbeloa knows him best.”
Finally, Morientes acknowledged the pressure that comes with managing Real Madrid — and offered personal support for both Arbeloa, just as he did with Xabi Alonso.
“It can’t be easy for Arbeloa, it can’t be easy at all to arrive at a club like Real Madrid, with the impact it has, making decisions, not just professional decisions but also those outside of it, it can’t be easy at all. Those of us on the outside see it and wish him the best. Arbeloa was also a Real Madrid youth player, I’m friends with Xabi Alonso, I’ve shared things with Arbeloa too… And all I can say is that I wish them the best, but in professional football sometimes two plus two doesn’t equal four, and sometimes there are problems and moments when those who make the decisions are the ones who decide, and those of us on the outside simply watch and analyze.”
