Real Madrid’s disappointing 2025-26 season came to a disastrous close on Sunday with a 2-0 loss to Barcelona, where they struggled to pose any threat to their rivals. As a result, it’s been confirmed that the team has finished their second consecutive year without winning a major trophy, with no titles to add to their collection at the Bernabeu this season.
According to Marca, head coach Álvaro Arbeloa began his post-match press conference by expressing dissatisfaction over a missed penalty call against his team, although he chose not to dwell on it for long. Instead, he called on his players to demonstrate their remorse to the Real Madrid supporters for the lackluster season.
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“To me, it was clear there was an elbow, but nonetheless, congratulations to Barcelona for clinching the league title today. While our season ends here, we cannot give up. We represent something much greater than ourselves—the Real Madrid badge. We need to display our true regret.
“There isn’t much we can say, as we recognize the fans’ frustration and anger. All we can do now is focus on the future and reflect on what we have done wrong this season. We always rise back. I empathize with the Madrid supporters’ feelings. We must collectively advance and establish a clear plan moving forward. For me, that means learning from the fact that we’ve dropped too many points that we shouldn’t have. It’s acceptable to lose to Barcelona, but not to other teams.”
Arbeloa Discusses Mbappe and Huijsen Absences
Arbeloa also clarified why Kylian Mbappé was not included in the squad for El Clasico and provided insight into Dean Huijsen’s last-minute withdrawal from the lineup.
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“With two weeks remaining in the season, we’ll need to monitor his progress to determine if he can participate. I would have preferred for him to play, but he wasn’t fully fit. (Huijsen) wanted to play, but he felt weak during warm-ups. In a match of this magnitude, we need our players to be at their strongest.”
Arbeloa: Discussions About My Future Ahead
When asked about his future as manager, Arbeloa indicated that discussions would likely take place following the conclusion of Real Madrid’s season, now that competitive play has ended.
“As is customary, I expect there will be a conversation with the club, but I want the team to finish the season on a high note and not get distracted during these final three games. We want to end well on the pitch, and I will focus on giving playing time to those who haven’t had much recently.”