Defeated Real Madrid must put team before individuals: Coach Alvaro Arbeloa

BARCELONA – Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said his club needs to work together better as a unit rather than as a collection of individuals, after Barcelona beat them on May 10 to retain their La Liga crown.

Barca defeated Los Blancos 2-0 in El Clasico at the Camp Nou, thanks to goals by Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres, to claim back-to-back titles with three games to spare.

“We need to collectively take a step forward, to have a much clearer idea of what it is we want to do,” Arbeloa told reporters.

“To put the collective before the individual, because, beyond talent, we always need to have a clear idea, and for me, this is the start.

“Above all, we have to learn that we dropped a lot of points against teams and in games where we shouldn’t have.”

After signing French superstar Kylian Mbappe in 2024, Real have lacked balance when playing the forward alongside Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham.

Real’s top scorer Mbappe was unable to play against Barcelona because of a thigh injury. The France captain drew criticism after going on holiday to Sardinia during his recovery process.

“I would have liked that he was 100 per cent and that he was able to play, that’s what I would have liked,” said Arbeloa.

The coach said he could understand supporters being upset with the team this season, after they finished without a major trophy for a second year running.

“There isn’t much we can say,” said the Spaniard. “We understand their frustration, their disappointment, and just how dissatisfied they must be with this season. All we can do is work hard and look to the future, learn from everything we've got wrong this year.

“Real Madrid always bounce back, we’ve fallen many times and got back up many times, but I understand the anger any Real Madrid fan might feel. We have to work to turn the situation around.”

Asked whether Madrid needed a rebuild, he backed his players.

“We have a great squad. We can get a lot out of them. It hasn’t been easy at all with everything that’s happened over the last few months – many key players out. The club will always look to improve, but we have a squad of very good players that any team in Europe would want,” Arbeloa said.

The 43-year-old is unlikely to remain at the helm next season and former Real coach Jose Mourinho has been linked with a return.

“We will have a conversation with the club, as is normal, and what I want right now is that the team finishes (the season) well,” said Arbeloa.

“That will be my objective... and we’ll see about the future from the 24th or 25th of May.” AFP, REUTERS