New coach Alvaro Arbeloa said he was not afraid of failure as he took the blame for Real Madrid’s stunning 3-2 defeat to second division Albacete in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
Arbeloa has made a nightmarish start to his managerial career at Real after taking charge of the Spanish giants following the departure of Xabi Alonso on Monday.
The shock result capped a dismal week for the club, who also lost 3-2 to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday.
The 42-year-old Arbeloa inherits a team that is four points behind its arch-rivals Barcelona in La Liga and now out of the Copa del Rey.
After the humbling result at a foggy Carlos Belmonte Stadium, the former Real Madrid defender took full responsibility for the defeat but insisted better days lay ahead.
READ | Xabi Alonso has a great future despite the end of Real Madrid: Barcelona’s Flick
«At this club, a draw is always bad, a tragedy. It’s painful and I’m sure all our fans are in pain,» Arbeloa told reporters. «I am responsible and guilty. Regarding the line-up and the substitutions, I can only thank the players. Now we have to recover for Saturday.»
Arbeloa’s decision to rest a number of first-team stars came under scrutiny as Madrid struggled against an organized and determined Albacete side. Despite the result, Arbeloa doubled down on his choices.
«I don’t regret it. I was convinced that the team I brought was the right one,» he claimed. «With the players we had formed a great team. I would make the same decision a thousand times. It is difficult for players to adapt to everything I have asked of them in one day. We also have many players who need to recover physically.»
NO fear of failure
Madrid’s second successive defeat in less than a week was a blow for Arbeloa, but the manager remained steadfast in his belief that failure is a stepping stone to success.
“I’m not afraid of failure,” he said. «I understand anyone who wants to describe this defeat as a failure. Failure is part of the road to success. It will make me better, and it will make us all better. I have endured defeats harder than this one. We will prepare for the next match with maximum dedication.»
He added that Real had a lot of room for improvement physically.
“With a new manager, players will need time to adapt to different ideas,” he said. «What happens on the pitch is ultimately my responsibility. We need clearer ideas about the way we approach games, especially against teams that defend deep.»
Published on January 15, 2026
