Real Madrid lock horns with Real Betis tomorrow night Estadio La Cartuja hoping to keep pushing FC Barcelona in the La Liga title race.
Currently nine points behind their arch-rivals, who are sitting at the top of the table, Real Madrid’s only chance is to keep racking up wins and hope the Catalans slip up.
After a four-game winless streak, Los Blancos got back on track earlier this week by defeating Deportivo Alaves 2-1 and will hope to build on it.
Ahead of the crucial fixture in Seville, manager Alvaro Arbeloa addressed the media in his pre-match press conference, addressing several topics, including his relationship with club captain Dani Carvajal.
Kicking things off, the Real Madrid boss made the team’s objective clear for the rest of the season, saying:
“It doesn’t depend on us, our goal is to win all six, regardless of what Barcelona does. We’re only worried about this game, but it’s not up to us.”
On how he is motivating the players at this stage of the season, he added: “My main goal shouldn’t be to motivate a Real Madrid player; they have very high expectations of themselves. My goal is to prepare them for what awaits them on the field.”
Regarding the rumours of a tense relationship between himself and Carvajal, after his curt reply regarding the club captain’s limited minutes, Arbeloa explained:
“My response the other day was curt, serious, to a question I found out of place; it wasn’t about Dani Carvajal. You can see my responses whenever I talk about him, ask my players how I speak about him in front of the group.
“You’re trying to put me in a difficult position in this unfair situation. He’s more than ready to go to the World Cup, I’m happy with him, and I think he should be just as important to the national team.”
Continuing, he added: “I’ve always had a good relationship with him, I’ve always treated him with affection, respect, and admiration.
“For people to think I make lineups for personal reasons… I find it hard to believe that any coach in the world doesn’t make lineups for footballing reasons.”
On being further pushed about the right-back’s limited role since he took over as manager, Arbeloa replied:
“It’s very simple, only 11 players can play. It’s not that they can’t play. There are many I’m being unfair to, but I know how well they train. That’s all there is to it.”
Arbeloa plays down rumours of a rift between himself and Carvajal. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
With Carvajal’s current contract expiring on 30 June, Arbeloa was asked if he would like to see the club captain continue beyond this season. In response, he said:
“Whenever you ask, I tell you the same thing: it’s between them. I’d be happy with whatever makes them happy. Whatever is good for Carvajal and Madrid is good for me.”
On whether he prefers Trent Alexander-Arnold as his starter over Carvajal, he explained: “He’s showing a high standard, he’s earning his place, his performance is beyond doubt.
“Every match is a matter of life and death for me; when I pick a player, it’s because I believe he deserves it and because I think it’s to win – I don’t give anyone a minute for free.”
With Arbeloa facing an uncertain future at Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho is being talked up as a potential replacement. And superstar Kylian Mbappe happened to like a social media post linking the Portuguese head coach with a return.