“If I try to be Mourinho, I will fail spectacularly.” Alvaro Arbeloa could not have known that the headline statement from his opening press conference at Real Madrid would wear thin due to the Portuguese character’s subsequent suicide. Arbeloa, too, is to be commended for the good light that has been cast upon it.
Arbeloa was initially cast as the man to give Real Madrid a tough edge and, the manager is willing to open the box ‘by any means necessary’. With quotes such as ‘I try to be Mourinho in everything I do’ floating around the internet, and a reputation for opening that box during his playing days, Arbeloa walked the party line with military precision at Real Madrid, but with an unexpected arrogance.
His voice has grown softer in recent months. Speaking to people familiar with Arbeloa, there is no lack of confidence, yet he makes the sounds of a humble coach. Having secured the jersey to defeat Real Madrid’s arch-rival Pep Guardiola, after defeating him twice in a week, Arbeloa has left a very tasty piece of cake in the fridge. “I wouldn’t dare to think I could beat someone like Pep in anything. Arbeloa borrowed Guardiola’s saying of the game; make sure you have an extra player in midfield.
Successful in praising his players, Arbeloa began to vent their bruised egos as soon as he entered. Since Vinicius Junior, he and Fede Valverde have been identified as one of the three driving the separation of the dressing room under Xabi Alonso. In personality or design, Arbeloa’s handling of the job is more similar to Carlo Ancelotti than Mourinho.
The now famous ‘grey couch’ in his office, where players come to present their grievances, concerns and insights, puts Arbeloa on a level with his players. Rather than an executive, he is a confident person, another employee who wants to improve their performance to the fullest. Actually, working with them and for them. That’s just how President Florentino Perez has always seen the coach’s role, and it works.
Even when asked what style of football he wanted to play, Arbeloa was vague, saying this week that “Winning is the most important thing here, regardless of how it’s done.” Supporting practical factors such as character, commitment and logic, after a month Arbeloa admitted that “the goal remains strong.” Of course, without winning, none of that matters. One month ago, Real Madrid was coming out with consecutive defeats in La Liga against Osasuna and Getafe, no strong performance, and both showing a lack of football. A day later, a report emerged that Real Madrid players still see him as a youth coach.
Not many had Thiago Pitarch down as a solution, and Arbeloa deserves all the credit for it. The introduction of this 18-year-old was an injection of blind faith. Whatever run Arbeloa asks for, Pitarch does. Whatever role he is given, Pitarch learns as a method actor. It turns out that Arbeloa is a good youth coach. Clever and up-tempo, his presence in the middle of the field has allowed Real Madrid to open their best game of the season against Manchester City, in a situation where the killer was ready with the guillotine of Arbeloa.
After gradually gaining the trust of Vinicius and Valverde, the pair are in their best form since 2024, with 11 goals in Real Madrid’s last five games. Arbeloa found a formula that worked with Pitarch connecting the dots, and developed a relationship with the dressing room. After a long winter, green shoots of hope have been allowed to peek at the Bernabeu. Now, Arbeloa has two months ahead of him to decide his future at Real Madrid, but he still has it i the question to answer.
Only four times since Arbeloa took over have Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius shared the pitch for more than ten minutes (three wins, one loss). There is a temptation to downplay the ‘good problem’, but the evidence under Ancelotti and Alonso is that in this current framework, their combination is problematic. It is unfortunate for the Englishman that it was Bellingham’s first start that brought Alonso his first loss of the season, a 5-2 derby defeat.
⚔️ Thiago Pitarch no da un balón por perdido.
RealMadridGetafe | LALIGAEAASPORTS | LALIGA Highlights pic.twitter.com/ME5LPTQvYj
— LALIGA (@LaLiga) March 2, 2026
Introducing Pitarch as Real Madrid’s plumber has been inspired, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to use him. In his six games, Pitarch benched the half-sized Eduardo Camavinga and the undersized Franco Mastantuono; two minor absences are problematic. The use of four traditional midfield players, with Brahim Diaz able to play in the fifth position, gave Los Blancos balance without overwhelming them in the final third.
Without Toni Kroos, Ancelotti has struggled to correct Real Madrid’s mistakes. Alonso tried to mold Real Madrid into a machine, with predictable results for better or for worse, but he took the sandpaper to the extremes rather than warmth. Arbeloa is the latest to try to raise the question to Bellingham, Mbappe and Vinicius – can you play together while being strong?
The good thing about him is that he is in a better position to ask that question. The Bernabeu-sanctioned enthusiasm of Pitarch, Manuel Angel and Cesar Palacios requires all the other stars to play with more intensity. Bellingham, Vinicius and Valverde were humbled after the cruel whistle in January, and are working to earn their way back into the good plans of the Madridistas. They know that at the end of the seaosn, Arbeloa is below them in the list of goats.
A month on from their soul-crushing loss to Getafe, it doesn’t seem so far from the question of whether Arbeloa can turn this constellation into a winning team, than whether Real Madrid can win with all three. Arbeloa worked on the question, now he has to come up with the right answer.
