At the end of Alvaro Arbeloa's press conference after Real Madrid's brave 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid in the derby, there was still time for a final question. And the question is very simple - what will he say to those who doubt him?
They don't know the players I have" - Arbeloa replied.
Since taking over the coaching position from Xabi Alonso in January, Arbeloa has constantly focused his attention on the players, praised them profusely and denied any contribution to Real Madrid's positive transformation.
I am very lucky to have him" is the constant saying of the Spanish captain when asked about Vinicius Junior, Federico Valverde, Kylian Mbappe and others. "I will sculpt a statue of him and put it in my garden" - he said before the derby when asked about defender Antonio Rudiger.
Whether by coach, player or both, Real Madrid has improved since Arbeloa took over on January 12. Since then, they have won 17 out of 21 matches in all competitions and lost the remaining 4 matches.
In La Liga, they are 4 points behind the leading team Barcelona - a gap similar to when Alonso was sacked - and the decisive El Clasico match may take place on May 10. In the UEFA Champions League, Los Blancos will face Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals after eliminating Manchester City with a total score of 5-1.
In just a few weeks, Arbeloa's Real Madrid has defeated 3 teams led by legendary coaches: Benfica of Jose Mourinho, Man City of Pep Guardiola and Atletico of Diego Simeone.
Things are not always smooth sailing. In his debut as first-team coach, Arbeloa witnessed Real Madrid being eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Albacete. After 2 consecutive defeats against Osasuna and Getafe in La Liga, sources from the club said that unless a miracle occurs or they win the Champions League, otherwise Arbeloa will be replaced in the summer.
But the results show that this coach has certainly done some important things, starting from managing one of the biggest stars - and previously the least performing - of the team.
Vinicius regains form
Vinicius became the representative face of Alonso's protests in the dressing room with his hot-tempered reaction on the field when he was substituted in the El Clasico match in October last year.
Alonso's suspicions about the Brazilian striker have been clearly revealed since last summer - when he considered removing Vinicius from the FIFA Club World Cup squad. He was even crossed out in both La Liga and Champions League despite being completely healthy. As a result, Vinicius lost confidence, was silent for 3 months and was booed by home fans at the Bernabeu.
Contract extension negotiations (currently lasting until 2027) are also stalled, with Alonso being seen as a major obstacle. Arbeloa's top priority after taking over is to restore faith to Vinicius. He continuously defended, encouraged and returned the starting position to this player.
I will do everything to maximize Vinicius's ability. I ask the players to find him. He is not afraid, is one of the most dangerous players in the world and is the embodiment of Real Madrid" - Arbeloa affirmed.
That belief was quickly rewarded. Vinicius scored in 5 consecutive matches in February - equaling his best career streak - before scoring a double against Man City and Atletico Madrid. When he left the field in the final minutes of the derby, Arbeloa was waiting to hug his student.
I'm not sure if he has reached his peak form yet, but it's definitely very close" - Arbeloa said.
A new role for Federico Valverde
If Vinicius's change is the most impressive under Arbeloa, then Valverde's transformation is also not inferior. The Uruguayan midfielder, along with Vinicius and Jude Bellingham, was once in the group of players who did not really trust Alonso, according to sources close to the dressing room.
The image of Valverde warming up lack of enthusiasm after being eliminated from the starting lineup in the away match against Kairat Almaty in September clearly reflects dissatisfaction. He is often pushed down to play right-back - a position that he himself admits "not born to play" - in the context of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal's absence.
Before January, Valverde had not scored any goals in the season. But since Arbeloa took over the role of attacking midfielder - a position that helped him shine under Ancelotti - everything has changed. He scored 6 goals in just one month, including a shocking hat-trick against Man City and an important goal against Atletico Madrid.
Fede is all a Real Madrid player needs to have. He has the spirit of Juanito and the qualities of legends. Today, he has shouldered the whole team" - Arbeloa said after the decisive goal in the 90+4 minute against Celta Vigo.
Being liberated from his unfavorable role and returning to the right position, Valverde is exploding. Like the case of Vinicius, this is not a tactical miracle, but putting the right people in the right place and giving them the belief to maximize their abilities.
