El Clásico is just around the corner, and Real Madrid's Álvaro Arbeloa stepped up to the mic this Saturday to address the growing tension ahead of Sunday's showdown against Barcelona. But it wasn't just tactics or lineups on the table—the coach had to navigate a storm brewing inside the dressing room.

The hot topic? The reported altercation between teammates Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouameni. Both players were reportedly punished and fined by the club, but Arbeloa was quick to defend his squad while praising the club's response. "I'm very proud of the club's firmness, speed, and transparency," he said. "The players acknowledged their mistake, showed remorse, and apologized. For me, that's enough."

Arbeloa didn't mince words when it came to backing his players. "Valverde and Tchouameni deserve for us to turn the page and give them a chance to keep fighting for this club. I will not allow this to be used to cast doubt on their professionalism—it's a lie that they've disrespected me or aren't committed. That's absolutely untrue."

In a move that will surely stir debate, Arbeloa confirmed Tchouameni will be in the squad for El Clásico, adding that he's "very happy with the work of his four captains." The coach also shut down rumors of friction with other players, including Dani Carvajal. "It's a lie that any of them aren't playing because of problems with me or their life outside Real Madrid. I'm the first to take responsibility for a season that's not up to standard. But I've been here four months, and I'm very proud of my players."

Arbeloa's message was clear: unity over drama. "What I'm not going to do is burn them at a public stake—they don't deserve it," he stressed, describing the dressing room as "healthy."

When the conversation turned to Kylian Mbappé's attitude, Arbeloa was equally direct. "Anyone who takes out of context a player leaving training with a smile is distorting things. I can only vouch for him—his work, his respect for me. When he played, it was because he earned it. When he didn't, someone else deserved it more."

With tensions high and El Clásico looming, Arbeloa's press conference was a masterclass in damage control—and a reminder that in football, what happens off the pitch can be just as gripping as the action on it.