New real Madrid Coach Alvaro Arbeloa took responsibility for the team’s “painful” 3-2 loss copa del rey After Wednesday’s defeat to second-tier Albacete, he defended his decision to rest several senior players.
Jephte Betancourt’s 94th-minute winner gave Albacete – currently 17th in the second division – their first win over Madrid, after gonzalo garcia A header in the 91st minute seemed to force extra time at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte.
Arbeloa took charge of Madrid on Tuesday after stepping down from coaching the reserve team following the departure of Xabi Alonso.
“A draw at this club is bad, a tragedy, so imagine a defeat like this,” Arbeloa said in the post-match press conference. “It hurts, especially against a team from a lower division. … Obviously we have to improve.
“I’m responsible, I make the decisions: the team, how we want to play, the substitutions. We’ll try to recover our morale and physically, and improve for Saturday’s game [against Levante in LaLiga]”
Madrid eliminated from Copa after just three days of defeat barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a result which preceded Alonso’s removal as coach.
Arbeloa dropped several key players from the team including Albacete Thibaut Courtois, Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchoumeni, alvaro carreras, rodrigo And klian mbappeWho are struggling due to knee sprain.
“I was convinced the team was right and I still think so,” Arbeloa said. “We have an extraordinary team, with great players. It’s not easy for them to do everything I ask of them after just one day.” [in the job]. We have a lot of players looking to get back to their best physical level.
“I don’t regret anything. I would choose the same team again.”
Madrid had previously only reached the Copa round of 16 and needed two goals from Mbappe to beat third-tier Talavera de la Reina 3-2 in December.
“I think we reached the lowest point today,” defender dani carvajal Told reporters. “We have been beaten by a second-tier team. Congratulations to them. Starting tomorrow we will all do some self-criticism, individually and collectively. There is still time to turn the season around.”
Arbeloa said: “If people want to describe it as a failure I will understand that. For me, failure is on the way to success. … I’m not afraid of that word. I’ve failed a lot in my life, I’ve had cup defeats, I’m excited to go to Valdebebas tomorrow and work with the players.” [play] Much better on Saturday.”
The new coach cited the need to improve his team physically, and refused to consider cup elimination as a positive in terms of reducing workload going forward.
“It’s never a relief to lose at Real Madrid,” Arbeloa said. “Obviously it can have some positive results, but it was not our intention to lose today. Physically we have a big margin to improve, that’s [fitness coach] Antonio [Pintus] Here’s what I think we need.”
Albacete’s players performed with dignity in emotional scenes at the final whistle, while former Madrid defender Jesus Vallejo – who was ruled out of Wednesday’s game through injury – left the field in tears.
“It’s the greatest thing I’ve experienced in football,” said match-winner Betancourt. “This is what you dream about.
“Nine years ago I wanted to quit football. Now, by dreaming and working hard, look where we are. I think we deserved it.”
