There have been reports of unrest among the players as club continue to navigate a difficult season
Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has addressed reports of a fallout with midfielder Dani Ceballos, as tensions grow within the squad during a difficult end to the season.
Reports have suggested a breakdown in the relationship between Arbeloa and Ceballos following an “unpleasant face-to-face meeting”, with the midfielder subsequently left out of the squad for the recent match against Real Betis. The 29-year-old is now believed to have played his final game for the club.
Arbeloa declined to discuss the situation in detail. “I don’t get into public debates about my players,” said Madrid’s coach. “It’s been 20 years since I trained as a Real Madrid player, and the first thing I learnt from the veteran players was that what happens in the Real Madrid dressing room, stays in the Real Madrid dressing room.”
There have also been reports of unrest involving other players, including defenders Raul Asencio and Dani Carvajal, although Arbeloa dismissed suggestions he has become disillusioned with his squad.
“Of course not, I defend them publicly,” Arbeloa said. “I’m in their hands because of what they show me every day. That’s what a coach should do. We’ve had a pretty open relationship with most of them. Whatever needs to be resolved is between us. I will always defend them from this position.”
The internal issues come amid growing pressure on Arbeloa. Former coach Jose Mourinho is already being linked with a possible return to replace him in the summer. Madrid are set to end the season trophyless for the second time in a row, after exiting the Champions League in the quarter-finals against Bayern and dropping 11 points behind Barcelona in La Liga with five games to go.
Arbeloa insisted the speculation is not affecting his focus. “No, I’m focused on the next game, and the noise doesn’t bother me,” said Arbeloa.
“I understand all the questions that you have to ask me. But my answer will remain the same. What I’m concerned about is the game tomorrow, and the three points, which for me is what is important, for my team, the players, the club. That’s the way I understand it.
“There are a lot of matches. The results are far from what Real Madrid should be achieving. You can’t beat anyone these days just by getting off the bus. We have to improve a lot, collectively.
“The talent we have isn’t enough to just keep the ball on the ground and play individually. We need a plan, a structure, a way to disrupt the opposition.”
