Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa focuses on managing star egos like Vinicius and Bellingham as his side host Monaco in the Champions League.
MADRID: Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa (pic) believes managing egos is crucial for success at the record 15-time European champions.
Los Blancos host Monaco on Tuesday in the Champions League, aiming to consolidate their top-eight league phase position after a turbulent period.
The Spanish Super Cup defeat by Barcelona and a Copa del Rey humiliation shook the club, with fans whistling their own players during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Levante.
Arbeloa, star forward Vinicius Junior and midfielder Jude Bellingham were notably targeted by the dissent.
Arbeloa’s predecessor Xabi Alonso’s downfall began when he substituted Vinicius, prompting a furious reaction from the Brazilian.
Alonso also upset Fede Valverde by playing him out of position and rotated Bellingham, with dressing room pressure eventually forcing him out.
Arbeloa’s approach is to lavish the club’s most talented players with affection, mirroring Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane’s successful stints.
Despite Vinicius struggling in the cup exit at second-tier Albacete, Arbeloa hailed the forward to a near-absurd degree.
“(He wanted) to carry the team on his shoulders, to attack and never hide, that’s the Vini I want to see,” said Arbeloa.
He highlighted Vinicius’s achievements after he was whistled against Levante, insisting the way forward was to feed him constantly.
“I’ll ask his team-mates to find him more, give him the ball as much as possible,” said Arbeloa. “I am proud to be his coach.”
Bellingham has scored once in his last 11 games after a poor showing in the Super Cup final.
“Up close he’s even better than on television, his experience, maturity, leadership…” said Arbeloa of the Englishman.
He added that players like Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius and Valverde must be looked for continuously to make them happy.
Arbeloa also displayed loyalty to president Florentino Perez after some fans chanted for his resignation.
“(The whistles) aren’t from people who don’t love Florentino, they are from people who don’t love Real Madrid,” said Arbeloa.
Top scorer Kylian Mbappe was not targeted by fans and netted his 30th goal of the season against Levante despite a knee sprain.
Barring setbacks, Mbappe should start against his former side Monaco on Tuesday.
Arbeloa did not substitute Mbappe or any main stars against Levante, avoiding his predecessor’s pitfalls.
Making the stars perform together remains a puzzle Ancelotti could not solve in his last season, nor Alonso in his brief tenure.
When Vinicius and Bellingham were the main attackers, Madrid won a La Liga and Champions League double in 2024.
Mbappe’s subsequent arrival left the team top-heavy, with the Monaco game offering a glimpse into how Arbeloa plans to achieve balance.
