Alvaro Arbeloa spoke to the media after Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Espanyol on Sunday. He was asked about Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe’s commitment defensively, and whether the former’s is greater than the latter’s, to which he said: “No… well, I don’t make comparisons between players. And… well, I think we need everyone. I’ve always said this since I’ve been in this position: to win any match, you need the commitment of every player. It hurts me when we see that all the other teams run more than us. And not just when we don’t have the ball, but also when we do. We need to be more mobile, make more runs off the ball… even if it’s uncomfortable, because to get the ball you have to make ten runs. But we need the commitment of every player to press, defend, attack… nowadays, if you want to be a complete team, one that’s hard for opponents to beat, talent alone isn’t enough. And I like to see when the players understand not only that commitment is important, but that they embody the values of Real Madrid. When we talk about what Real Madrid is and how it was built, I think… we didn’t create Real Madrid with players who take to the field in tuxedos, but with players who finish with their shirts covered in sweat, mud, effort, sacrifice, and perseverance… and because this team always brings in the best players in the world, and they understand what Real Madrid is, what its values are, what has made it great… well, talent, commitment, and effort come together. And that’s what makes us the best team in the world. But above all, it’s because of who we are and how we’ve built the history of Real Madrid.”
Arbeloa on Vinicius Jr playing better without Mbappe
“It’s easy to assess: he had another fantastic game, scoring two brilliant goals and leading the attack. He was a constant threat, very aggressive and intelligent. Brave and consistent. I held him back a bit because I didn’t want to risk him not being available for the Clásico. Great game, once again. He also helped the team defensively, which I appreciate. And well, as I’ve been saying all these months: a fantastic player, a natural leader, a teammate everyone loves, a great person… I’m very proud to have him as a player. I’m truly very lucky.”
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Arbeloa on Mbappe arriving in Madrid 12 minutes after kick-off
“Look… all the planning for injured players is already overseen by Real Madrid’s medical staff, who are the ones who decide when to go to Valdebebas. And from there, everyone does what they think is best in their free time. And I can’t get involved in that.”
Arbeloa on whether players are upset with Mbappe
“Look, I have no doubt about the commitment of any of my players. I think they all know how important these matches are for us. When you wear the Real Madrid shirt, you’re part of this club, you understand the demands placed upon us. We are a club where there has never been, nor will there ever be, a bigger player than Real Madrid. And I think all my players understand this perfectly. What they represent, where they are, and how important it is. And how lucky they all are, how lucky we all are, to be at Real Madrid.”
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Arbeloa on Dani Carvajal and Mbappe’s fitness
“We’ll see how Mbappé is this week. After last week’s tests, it seemed like it was going to be a bit longer, but… we’ll see how it progresses. And the same goes for Carvajal. I’m really hoping he can play before the end of the season, that he can recover and finish the season playing on the pitch, which is what Dani Carvajal deserves. Right?”
