Real Madrid temporarily reclaimed the lead in La Liga from Barcelona in their last match when the Catalans fell to a 2-1 defeat against Girona.
However, instead of maintaining that crucial advantage, Los Blancos suffered a setback of their own last night, losing three points in their away match against Osasuna.
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Osasuna controlled much of the first half and took the lead, but Vinicius Jr. equalized at 73 minutes. Unfortunately for Real Madrid, Osasuna struck again with a winner in the 90th minute, sealing the victory and challenging Alvaro Arbeloa’s team in the standings.
Arbeloa’s Press Conference
In the aftermath of the defeat, Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa addressed the media, offering a measured critique of his team’s performance while touching on other facets of the match.
He began his remarks by discussing a controversial penalty incident.
“From what I’ve seen, there may have been a foul earlier in that sequence,” he said.
“We faced two very tight offside decisions, and unfortunately, both went against us. Our performance wasn’t up to par; Osasuna played well, and they scored twice from their two attempts on goal,” he noted, crediting the opposition.
Calling for improvement after the loss, Arbeloa stated,
“We must enhance our intensity and play much better. We understand that playing twice a week is a challenge, but that’s the requirement at Real Madrid.”
“Every away game is a tough task. I was fully aware of the challenges posed by this stadium,” he added, reflecting on the difficulty of the away loss.
Real Madrid faces a critical match midweek. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
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When asked about how his team would cope with the defeat, Arbeloa responded:
“No one enjoys losing, but we’re not disheartened. It might sound exaggerated, but there’s still a long way to go.”
Identifying a weakness in his team’s attacking strategy, he stressed that too much reliance on Vinicius Jr. on the left flank was problematic.
“Currently, we depend excessively on the left side, and we need to diversify our play to pose a better challenge to defenses. It’s crucial that we improve as we prepare for another significant match on Wednesday.”
In response to concerns about his side’s apparent sluggishness against Osasuna, he clarified:
“I haven’t stated that we were particularly slow. In the first half, we simply needed to circulate the ball more quickly and create more danger.”
“There are numerous matches ahead, and we have ample room for growth. If we’re not at our best, we can be beaten by anyone. We recognize that,” he added.
Despite some recent positive results, Real Madrid’s inconsistency has raised questions about their ability to maintain momentum. Arbeloa noted:
“It’s true we haven’t strung together four or five consecutive wins yet. We had three significant victories against strong teams, playing well.”
“However, it’s not just about winning three matches; it’s about consistently performing day in and day out. With the competitive nature of the league, simply stopping at four matches isn’t sufficient. That’s the goal we are striving for,” he added.
Mbappe’s performance was below par last night. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
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Arbeloa also addressed Kylian Mbappe’s less-than-stellar performance and his fitness level.
“He rested last weekend and didn’t participate against Real Sociedad. We won’t risk players unless we feel they can adequately compete,” he said.
“It’s not solely my decision; I consult with the medical staff and the player, and we proceed when he feels ready,” he added.
The manager further explained his decision to substitute Federico Valverde in the 75th minute.
“Valverde has been putting in a great deal of effort over consecutive matches and has experienced minor discomfort. He’s been aware of this in recent weeks,” he noted.
“Rightly or wrongly, I preferred to avoid taking risks with Valverde, particularly after we conceded that goal,” he concluded.
Source: Real Madrid website