Overview
- Álvaro Arbeloa took over on January 12 without a formal presentation, debuting publicly alongside Emilio Butragueño before the Albacete match.
- He has overseen seven games with five LaLiga victories, yet his start is defined by a Copa del Rey exit at Albacete after heavy rotation and a damaging night in Lisbon.
- A stoppage-time goal by Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin in Lisbon knocked Madrid out of the Top-8 and set up a tie against Benfica, with coverage highlighting Mourinho’s tactical edge that night.
- Following a narrow win over Rayo, players and coach held a roughly hour-long meeting to air concerns, with reports describing the squad’s doubts about Arbeloa’s authority and his perceived closeness to the president.
- Reporting indicates president Florentino Pérez continues to explore alternative coaches, including interest in Jürgen Klopp, leaving Arbeloa’s tenure precarious ahead of the Benfica knockout ties.