Khaberni - Real Madrid's new coach, Alvaro Arbeloa, confirmed that he takes responsibility for the loss against Albacete in the Copa del Rey, while at the same time praising the performance that his star Vinicius Junior delivered.
Real Madrid appointed Arbeloa as the new coach to replace Xabi Alonso, who lost the Spanish Super Cup final against arch-rival Barcelona last Sunday.
But Arbeloa's tenure started in the worst possible way, after losing his first match at the helm to Albacete 2-3, thus bowing out of the Copa del Rey in the round of 16.
In the press conference following the match, Arbeloa said: "In this club, a draw is always considered a bad result, a disaster, so what about losing in such a manner? It becomes harder when it comes against a lower-tier competitor."
He added: "If anyone is to take responsibility, it is me, because I am the one who decides on the lineup, the playing style, and the changes. All I can do is thank the players for the warm welcome they have given me, for the effort they have put in, and we will work on getting them back physically and mentally."
Arbeloa continued: "I was completely convinced that the chosen squad was the right one, and that the team I sent on the field and the substitutes on the bench were composed of strong elements. I have a large group of talented players, and it's not easy for them to implement everything I asked of them in just one day with a new coach. So, I take full responsibility."
The coach went on: "The most important thing now is to start working and to recover the players, as we have many of them that need to return to their optimal physical condition, and we need to prepare for Saturday’s match."
When asked whether the defeat against Albacete constituted a failure, he commented: "I do not fear failure. Whoever wants to describe this defeat as a failure, I understand them. Failure is a part of the path to success, and for me, they do not run in opposite directions. This experience will make me better. We have a lot to improve, but I am not afraid of failure; I have failed many times in my life, and I've experienced harsher eliminations in the cup than this. Yet, I will return tomorrow with enthusiasm to Valdebebas to work with my players."
Asked about his opinion on the performance delivered by Vinicius, Arbeloa responded: "For me, it was positive that he decided to show up and play all the minutes despite the great effort he exerted last week, his readiness to play and help the team, to dribble and not hide, this is the Vinicius I want to see."
He concluded his statements about the Brazilian star by saying: "There will be days more brilliant and others less so, but this is the Vinicius I want, the leader, soon he will give us wonderful nights, and if Real Madrid wants to win titles, it needs the best version of Vinicius."
