REAL MADRID SENSATIONAL CUP EXIT THAT HAS SHOCKED EVERYONE
Real Madrid crashed out of the Copa del Rey in a disastrous defeat to second division team Albacete, losing 3-2. This was Alvaro Arbeloa’s first game as manager after parting company with Xabi Alonso, and boy what a debut — it immediately sparked widespread outrage in the Spanish media.
DOUBLE TROPHY DISASTER IN DAYS
Los Blancos have now dropped two trophies in just a matter of days. They lost the Supercopa final to Barcelona on Sunday, sacked the coach and now this is the biggest embarrassment in history of the club.
Marca — Spain’s largest sports newspaper — described their match report as “This Real Madrid is a total shame.” Their analysis pieces are predicting that the players will get booed off the pitch at the Bernabeu this coming Saturday when they face Levante in La Liga.
THE FOG LIFTS AND THE SHAME IS EXPOSED
A commentator summed it up perfectly; the worst thing that could have happened to Real Madrid was when the thick fog that had settled over Carlos Belmonte stadium for the first 20 minutes cleared. When the fog cleared, the sheer extent of the disgusting nature of their performance was exposed and the crisis that has engulfed the club erupted into chaos. The crisis is so big — the club has lost two trophies in three days, a coach has been sacked and now the new coach has seen his job placed under threat.
RISKY ROSTER CHANGES BACKFIRED
Arbeloa took a massive gamble by resting four of his best players (Mbappe, Courtois, Bellingham and Rodrygo) and the risk ultimately cost him dearly with the elimination from the competition. Are you serious? Do you think this squad is capable of winning La Liga and/or the Champions League? That is nothing short of pure fantasy talk right now, delusional, in the opinion of many.
PLAYERS NOT BUYING THE CHANGE EITHER
The truth is that the majority of the squad didn’t welcome the new boss. No-one expected a miracle switch from Alonso to Arbeloa, but at least there was some optimism for a change in energy and attitude. There was none. The only difference was the behavior of the new coach on the sideline.
Álvaro Arbeloa – managingmadrid.com
ARBELOA’S STRANGE PRESS CONFERENCE
But what shocked everyone was Arbeloa’s post-game press conference. He was much too nice to the players, almost like he was making excuses, and even praised them for their “effort.” Are you kidding me?
ATTACK BLUNT, DEFENSE A JOKE
For the entire game Real lacked any cutting edge up front, while the defense was an unmitigated disaster. Vinicius was meant to spearhead the backline experiment or whatever, but hardly made himself noticed at all. Played like Alonso was still on the bench. Valverde was also invisible. Mastantuono was the lone bright light — his goal — but even that barely bumped his rating from zero to a generous one. He was terrible. Saturday at the Bernabeu is going to be tough. VERY TOUGH TIMES ARE AHEAD.
