Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa stepped up to the microphone ahead of Thursday night's clash with Real Oviedo, and he didn't hold back. When asked about Florentino Pérez's press conference earlier this week, Arbeloa made it clear where his loyalties lie. "I'm not here to analyze the president's words. Every Madridista knows we have to defend the interests of this club. We're treated differently than any other team in the world—and we feel that pressure. But if Real Madrid has one strength, it's its members. Nobody tells us how to think, how to behave, or how to act."

The former defender turned manager didn't shy away from the team's recent struggles. "The league title has slipped away, and we accept that responsibility. Now we have to show our fans—and ourselves—that we deserve to wear this badge. Playing at home is a privilege, and we owe them our best."

Arbeloa also weighed in on the ongoing Negreira case, a controversy that has rocked Spanish football. "We all know what's happened over the last 20 years—or at least what we've been told. It would be good if this case were resolved. Paying referees? That's neither legal nor makes sense to anyone in football. It's unbelievable that only football itself seems to be defending legality. Every Madrid fan feels the same way."

When the topic turned to Pérez's legacy, Arbeloa was unequivocal. "I'm not a member, so I won't vote. But I've seen Real Madrid without Florentino. I remember what it was like before he arrived, and I've lived through these last 26 years. I'll take those 26 years every time. Madridistas have seen what he's done—beyond the trophies. If anyone can turn this situation around, it's Florentino Pérez."

Looking ahead, Arbeloa emphasized the bond between the team and its supporters. "I've always said Real Madrid is strongest when the fans and the team are united. That's how it's always been—we're a family. We always come back. The demands here are sky-high; we're never satisfied. Losing hurts more at this club than anywhere else. But we'll win again, and we'll do it with our fans behind us. There are double standards in football—there always have been. We've gone two years without a title, while others have gone decades. How many clubs have won as many Champions Leagues as we have? And still, people question our stability. But the members aren't foolish—they understand what this club is about."