Having had a disappointing end to his last visit to Lisbon, Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa will be hoping for a different outcome when his team face Benfica tomorrow in the UEFA Champions League knockout playoffs.
Los Blancos fell to a 4-2 loss against Benfica last month, which cost them a top-eight finish in the league phase, forcing to play the playoffs, with the draw pairing up them against Jose Mourinho’s men again.
Ahead of the first leg, which Real Madrid enter high on confidence after beating Real Sociedad 4-1 at the weekend, Arbeloa addressed the media in his pre-match press conference.
“We know how difficult tomorrow will be, the atmosphere here, and the pressure it always puts on us. We must give our all to win, which is the goal,” said Arbeloa, highlighting what will be key for Real Madrid to win tomorrow.
Regarding his relationship with Benfica boss Mourinho, who wished him success at Real Madrid, Arbeloa noted:
“You know we’re good friends, we wish each other the best, and we have a great relationship.”
On whether he would like to see the Portuguese tactician back at the Santiago Bernabeu in the future, the current head coach said:
“As I just answered, I can only say that I always wish Jose the best. My goal is to eliminate Benfica, obviously, and then, for him to win everything. And from there, I wish him all the best.”
Real Madrid have strung together a positive streak in La Liga, where they have won eight in a row in the Spanish top-flight. On how much percentage of credit should go to him for that run, Arbeloa replied:
“I don’t know… I don’t think in terms of percentages. Since I arrived, I’ve seen a very positive attitude from all the players, and that’s been key.
“In football, it’s much easier to be a coach than a player because it’s easier to say what needs to be done than to actually do it. So, a large part of the credit has to go to the players themselves, to their effort and hard work.
“The good results are thanks to the 20-25 players we have who prepare for every match as if it were a final. And with that mentality, that level of commitment, good results are coming. But we’re confident we can do even better.”
Regarding the level of trust he has managed to establish with the locker room since taking over last month, the Real Madrid boss said:
“They’ve welcomed me warmly from day one. The goal is the same: to work hard and win. Their willingness to receive me has been outstanding.
“Obviously, we haven’t been together very long, but I couldn’t ask for more than for them to maintain the same attitude.”
On what kind of Benfica he expects to see tomorrow, Arbeloa stated: “One team, obviously, has more individual talent. But their spirit will be very similar to what it was three weeks ago. They have a leader who sets the course, dictating how they play and compete.
“From there, there are minor differences. But it will be a very competitive, tough team. And we must be prepared.”
Looking forward to facing Mourinho again. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
On Mourinho’s comments about how they will see a ‘wounded’ Real Madrid coming for revenge, Arbeloa noted:
“No, no, no. We always think about winning. Our goal isn’t just to eliminate Benfica, but to win the Champions League. Getting through this round isn’t about revenge, it’s about achieving our objective.”
When asked about the lessons he had learnt from the previous game against Benfica, Arbeloa replied:
“For us, it’s a new game; we’re not thinking about anything else. It’s a new game… and we want to put on a great performance. There’s no other objective than to win.”
Regarding his recent switch to playing with a bank of four midfielders and whether he felt that it made the team more solid, Arbeloa explained:
“We came from Villarreal… and that day we played without that system. The goal is always to be solid. It’s very difficult these days to play good football if you’re not solid, compact, and don’t know how to press high up the pitch.
And to do all that, you need a lot of concentration; a lot of work and training. Valverde, Camavinga, Tchouameni, and Güler are doing a fantastic job, and I don’t need to tell them anything new.
“They’re doing well, like everyone else. When a team is solid, it’s because of the work of ten players.”
Providing an update on the fitness of Kylian Mbappe, who did not play against Real Sociedad, Arbeloa said: “He’s here, he came with us. He’s going to train. And… tomorrow you’ll see if he plays or not.”
Concluding, Arbeloa was asked about how he would like the Santiago Bernabeu next week for the reverse fixture. In response, he said:
“He’s going to be greeted with a huge ovation, because Real Madrid fans are aware of everything Jose did for the club, which was giving his all and then some. So I’m sure he’ll be welcomed with a huge ovation.”
Source: AS