How Alvaro Arbeloa changed Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid – and what it means for his future

Alvaro Arbeloa had a pretty rocky start as Real Madrid manager.

Promoted from the club’s third-division reserve team in January with just six months’ coaching experience in senior football, he endured an embarrassing defeat at second-tier Albacete in his first game in charge, before poor results turned a two-point La Liga lead over Barcelona into a four-point deficit on their Clasico rivals.

Over recent weeks, however, there has been real improvement at Arbeloa’s Madrid, and progress to the Champions League quarter-finals with two victories over Manchester City has significantly bolstered his position.

When Arbeloa was appointed, following the sacking of his friend Xabi Alonso on January 12, Madrid did not specify the nature of his new role — although sources close to the former Liverpool and Spain full-back (who, like all those cited in this article, asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships) previously told The Athletic he has a deal until “at least” June 2027.

As early as his first week in charge, speculation in the Spanish media began to link others with taking his job in the summer — including United States manager Mauricio Pochettino, Red Bull’s head of global soccer Jurgen Klopp and Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery.

Sources close to Arbeloa say there has been no unease about this, as the coach considers it normal and to be expected at the Bernabeu club. Now, after a series of positive performances, the volume of these rumours has died down.

Arbeloa’s future at Madrid will still remain closely tied to how the season ends. Eliminating City from the Champions League is a sign that Madrid might be able to compete for a trophy, having not won a major title last season. Success in one knockout tie will not define whether he stays or goes, but the mood around the 43-year-old manager has changed considerably.

Just a few weeks ago, after consecutive La Liga defeats at Osasuna on February 21 and at home to Getafe on March 2, various Madrid sources reflected a feeling of real pessimism around the club, including among Arbeloa and those close to him.

Since then, the dynamics have shifted. Arbeloa has emerged with great credit, praised for his tactical and managerial skills. So what exactly is this down to?

One of the main reasons behind Alonso’s sacking was his lack of rapport with some of Madrid’s key players.

The Athletic published a detailed report in late October — shortly after a 2-1 home win over Barca opened up a five-point lead in La Liga — on how his approach was not going down well among a significant section of the team. Problems stemmed from an increased emphasis on video analysis, calls to raise intensity in training, and attempts to impose more discipline on the squad.

Now, the atmosphere is said to have improved considerably. Sources say Arbeloa and his coaching staff enjoy a closer relationship with the players and that his approach is appreciated more than the one taken by Alonso and his specialists.

Arbeloa gives the impression of being more approachable than Alonso. Many players regularly visit what Arbeloa described as the “comfortable grey armchair” in his office when he said at a February press conference: “Often they come to me, often I call them.”

Having not had much involvement in the team, one of the latest to sit there was Brahim Diaz. A few days later, he started against Celta Vigo on March 6, and he has continued as a starter in Madrid’s three matches since, including both games of the City tie, performing well.

Another factor that has eased tensions is the lifting of certain restrictions concerning the players’ routines at the training ground and on match days. Under Alonso, access was restricted to only those whose presence was strictly necessary — essentially just the players and the small number of coaches involved in each session or game. Now, the situation is much more fluid and relaxed.

This is not to say Arbeloa is universally popular. Sources say there are players who are not happy with him. However, this was considered to be more as a result of those players’ secondary roles in his vision for the team, rather than something related to his methods. One source working with a player who isn’t a regular starter contrasted the mood now with that under Alonso by saying: “Almost no one was happy with Xabi, including many starters.”

Perhaps it would be natural to assume that a group of players that is feeling happier under a manager’s leadership would be more receptive to carrying out their instructions on the pitch. On the subject of tactics, Arbeloa has not spoken about wanting to make great changes or impose a particular vision, in the way Alonso did when he arrived.

Preparation for matches does not involve as many analysis or video sessions as was usual under Alonso (although the former coach decreased the number towards the end of his time). But it would not be fair to say Arbeloa has taken an entirely laissez-faire approach at Madrid — a club often described as suiting that style better, owing to a tendency to rely on individual talent rather than collective strength.

We have seen a happy medium in recent weeks. Vinicius Junior, one of the players most refreshed since Alonso’s departure, has provided key moments of brilliance, but at the same time other important goals came from rehearsed moves on the training ground, such as Federico Valverde’s opener in the first leg against City.

Pep Guardiola fielded a very attacking lineup for that game at the Bernabeu, but Arbeloa’s plan withstood the surge. Trent Alexander-Arnold had extra support from Valverde at right-back to try to contain Jeremy Doku. At corners, the image of Arda Guler and Fran Garcia marking Erling Haaland went viral for the mismatch in their statures, but that, too, was planned.

Sources at the Madrid training ground said they had identified other City players as bigger direct threats from set pieces, including Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi and Rodri, while Haaland tended to focus on reacting to rebounds or second balls.

“Arbeloa is getting flak for not discussing tactical matters in press conferences, but the reality is that he prepares extensively for matches,” one such source says. “He and his staff have every detail under control, both regarding our opponents and our own team.”

When Guardiola was asked for his impressions of Arbeloa’s approach, in his post-match press conference after Tuesday night’s 2-1 home defeat by Madrid in their Champions League last-16 second leg, he said: “I liked what I saw. He has made a very good impression on me. He’ll have a long career.”

After the 1-0 home defeat by Getafe back on March 2, as The Athletic reported earlier this week, Madrid’s general manager Jose Angel Sanchez visited the training ground to address the coaches and players.

Madrid were set to host City the following week, and Sanchez’s message was that the board had full confidence in the squad. He offered support to Arbeloa, called for unity and repeated that Madrid’s senior leaders believed the team is capable of winning silverware this season.

Since then, Madrid have won four matches in a row — and they have done so without several key players, such as Jude Bellingham, Eder Militao, Mbappe and Rodrygo. In response to an injury crisis, Arbeloa has promoted several youth players, with 18-year-old Thiago Pitarch especially impressing in a major role in midfield, something that has also helped boost his popularity with supporters.

Arbeloa’s future as Madrid coach will still be directly influenced by results. But for now, vindication in the Champions League has earned him valuable credit, just when things looked at their most bleak.