Alvaro Arbeloa’s first post-match press conference at Real Madrid has been as badly received as his first performance.
Real embarrassingly lost 3-2 in the Copa del Rey to second tier Albacete to make it two cup exits in just a matter of days.
Arbeloa had to face the music post-match, and while he repeated that he had to ‘take the blame’ there were plenty of other messages he put out.
The rookie coach repeatedly mentioned his players’ physical conditioning, and alluded to the return of fitness coach Antonio Pintus, with reports claiming Xabi Alonso was vehemently against his re-hiring.
As such, Arbeloa’s comments have been seen as a dig at Alonso, with Cadena SER’s Antonio Romero saying: “To point out the lack of physical preparation is to point the finger at Xabi Alonso.
“That’s being a bad colleague. A very bad one indeed.”
Onda Cero’s Edu García called it a “pointless low blow,” adding that Arbeloa “is already looking for excuses instead of examining his own decisions.”
Another prominent Spanish pundit, Julio Pulido, was just as critical, questioning Arbeloa’s claims that he and Alonso are good friends.
He said: “I don’t want a close friend like Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso supposedly are, who at the first defeat says this publicly, making me look very bad.
“Not only his close friend, but also his trusted team. I don’t want a close friend like that.
“If you’re a close friend, respect your friend’s work, and at the first sign of trouble, don’t blame them for today’s defeat. It’s very unsportsmanlike.
“Today Arbeloa is starting to show what a true club man he is. He’s a club man through and through.
“This mantra about physical problems is one of the reasons why Xabi Alonso isn’t coaching Real Madrid.
“Today Arbeloa throws it out there as one of the reasons for the defeat. Without a doubt, Arbeloa, you’re a great club man.”
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