Alvaro Arbeloa has changed his tune on Real Madrid’s collective work rate, and it’s being interpreted as a dig at Kylian Mbappe.
The rookie coach made clear upon his arrival that his troops wouldn’t have to work as hard as they did under Xabi Alonso.
Arbeloa continued to excuse a lack of pressing from Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, but now he’s changed his tune at an interesting time.
Mbappe is currently out with a muscle strain for Madrid and has copped plenty of heat for going on holiday with his new girlfriend while injured.
Arbeloa has continually protected the France captain, but now, after a win over Espanyol, his comments have been taken as a direct criticism.
Arbeloa turns on Mbappe
“To win, you need the commitment of all the players,” he said.
“It hurts me when we see other teams running more than us, because talent alone isn’t enough.
“We didn’t create Real Madrid with players who go onto the field in tuxedos, but rather with players who finish with their shirts covered in sweat and mud.
“When they understand what has made the club great, talent and effort come together, and that’s what makes us the best team in the world.
“There is not, nor will there ever be, a greater player than Real Madrid.”
Mbappe was protected by Arbeloa
The comments mark a stark change from Arbeloa’s earlier attitude, when he was clearly trying to get the players onside after their fallout with Alonso.
Speaking after a series of results where Madrid looked better without Mbappe, he said: “It’s an extraordinary privilege to have a player like Mbappé on the team.
“I put myself in the shoes of the defenders who have to face Real Madrid.”
He also defended a previous trip out of the country that Mbappe made.
“The management of injured players is entirely the responsibility of Real Madrid’s medical staff, who determine when they should go to Valdebebas and when they are not allowed to,” he said.
“Apart from that, each player does what he sees fit during his free time, and I can’t interfere with that.”
Pundits fume with Mbappe
Pundits have long called out Mbappe’s lack of work including in late March when AS editor Tomas Roncero went on a rant.
The Spaniard has long criticised Mbappe for not understanding the club, and was fuming at his lack of work after a 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid.
“He came on for 25 minutes and did nothing but stroll around the Bernabéu pitch,” Roncero commented.
“Kylian is incredibly talented, but he lacks the empathy needed to understand what this club needs to create a real connection with him and win the hearts of the Madrid fans.
“Vinicius can make mistakes, but he makes them with heart. Kylian is so detached in his actions that the Bernabéu crowd no longer knows what to think of him.
“He’s capable of scoring tons of goals, but during those 25 minutes, he didn’t press Atlético’s attacks at all, despite being down to ten men, which displeased the fans.
“Mbappé needs to rethink his attitude, and his friend Vinicius has shown him the way.”
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