Was replacing the head coach not the right answer? Real Madrid continues to face turmoil even under the Álvaro Arbeloa coaching regime.
The Athletic reported on the 27th (KST), "Internal unrest at Real Madrid is growing as the team drifts away from the La Liga title race under Arbeloa's management. Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Real Betis and continues to struggle. This was yet another ordinary result amid a poor run," the report said.
Real Madrid conceded an equalizer in stoppage time at the end of the second half in the away match at Betis on the 25th, taking only one point. The La Liga title is essentially out of reach. Real Madrid currently sits second with 74 points. They trail leader Barcelona (85 points) by more than 10 points. Over the remaining five matches, a comeback is nearly impossible.
Real Madrid is still stumbling at the end of the season. Since the March international break, they have managed only one win in six matches across all competitions. They were eliminated in the Champions League quarterfinals by Bayern Munich, and with the league title essentially lost, they face the prospect of finishing the season without a trophy. Depending on the next round's results, Barcelona's title could be confirmed as early as the next matchday.
Arbeloa's position is becoming increasingly unstable. He took charge of Real Madrid last January following his friend and former coach Xabi Alonso. Real Madrid's leadership sacked Alonso after clashes with the squad and chose to promote Arbeloa internally in June last year after he had been leading Castilla (Real Madrid's B team).
But the problem was not the head coach. Real Madrid has failed to find stability even under Arbeloa's management. His win rate is 60%, the lowest since Julen Lopetegui's tenure in 2018. Notably, they failed to keep a clean sheet against Betis, leaving the unwanted record of conceding in 10 consecutive league matches.
Reports of locker room discord continue. The Athletic said, "Doubts about Arbeloa within the club are growing. Club key figures, including president Florentino Pérez, were already worried from the time of his appointment about whether he was ready," adding, "The problem is not just results."
The reason is that Arbeloa has continued to overlook veteran fullback Dani Carvajal. Last week a question arose about Carvajal's limited playing time, and Arbeloa publicly praised him and left the door open for a contract renewal, but he still only had Carvajal on the bench against Betis.
Another former Spain international, Dani Ceballos, was left entirely off the roster and is expected to leave the team this summer. The Athletic explained, "Some key players, including Vinícius Júnior, publicly supported the coach, but long-standing disputes with the group of Spanish players are still said to exist."
The outlet added, "According to multiple sources close to this group, some players feel they are not being treated as fairly as others. Real Madrid and Arbeloa did not respond to requests for comment. With the prospects for major trophies effectively gone, internal unease at the club is clearly visible."
With two consecutive seasons likely to end trophyless, criticism is growing in Spain. The last time Real Madrid failed to win any of La Liga, the Copa del Rey or the Champions League for two straight years was the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.
Arbeloa's future is expected to be decided after the season ends. The Athletic reported, "Senior club officials say they must be cautious until the end of the season and that all decisions will be evaluated after the season concludes."
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