Alvaro Arbeloa attended the press in the preview of the match against Elche (Saturday, 21:00 h; Orange TV and Movistar LaLiga) at the Bernabeu to analyze all the news of Real Madrid after the spectacular victory against City in the Champions League. The Spanish coach opened the door to hope with Mbappe… and with the possible entry of another youth player into the white starting elevenElche: “We face it with the mentality that we are playing for the league. It is a very important match in our field and we want an atmosphere very similar to Wednesday. The opponent plays very well, better than the points he has. In the first leg it was complicated and we are prepared to make an extra effort, knowing the difficulty of the opponent. We only have in mind to win against Elche.”
Extra effort: “I only have players who have raised their hands willing to make an effort, committed and aware that it is an important match. Tomorrow we are going to field the best possible team to beat Elche and I am not thinking about anything other than that match. The players must go home dead after every game, recover and think about the next one. Every three days they have to give their best and be ready to run and fight like they did last Wednesday.”
Mbappe: “It’s not a difficult time, he’s getting better every day and with his evolution in reference to the plan we made when we decided to stop and we did the tests. He’s doing very well. He won’t be there tomorrow, but we trust that he will be ready to travel to Manchester.”
Casillas/Courtois: “I have played with some of the best goalkeepers in the world and they have come to be considered as some of the best in history, but what I have seen Courtois do I have not seen anyone else do. I’m sure we are looking at the best goalkeeper in Real Madrid’s history.”
Breaks: “I only have players who have raised their hands to make another effort because they know how important tomorrow’s game is. We are Madrid and they are special players, made of a different paste. We have to be a great team again.”
Running more in the Champions League: “The data I have doesn’t tell me that, that we run very similar distances… a little more in intensity/sprint. They are striking physical data, but football is not only explained from the physical. To win a match you don’t just have to run, we are a team that in total distance we run less… but in intensity we run much more than our rivals. I’m not overly concerned about that. The other day we fought for every ball and we did a lot of helping each other. That’s Madrid, it’s our DNA.”
Plan for Mbappe: “You take me very far, I want him to be able to travel to Manchester. Let’s see how he is tomorrow and Sunday we will make the final decision.”
Manuel Angel and his physique: “For me the size he has is that of his heart, which is huge. I’ve been very lucky to play with wonderful people, and top people who did not exceed 1.60m. They were sensational players and you have to be. Manuel Angel has no problem to be a first division player. We already saw in Vigo how he stole the ball on the ground. He is one of my right eye”
Victory against City and the comparison with Pep: “Nothing, I don’t swim in praise. The next setback, which hopefully will never come, I will be looked at with a magnifying glass again. It’s normal, it’s not because of me, it’s because I’m in this chair. People who have been here and have won many Champions League… throughout their time at Madrid have carried with them many doubts and criticism. This is what this position entails and I’m not too worried about it. I have to get the most out of all my players.”
Change in the team and the physical level: “Everyone makes the analysis they consider and comes to the conclusions they want. Pintus is a professional and is helping us a lot. I hope we continue to be as strong in the second half.”
Will Thiago stay with the first team until the end of the season?: “The boys have to keep working with humility, there is a lot of focus on them but they must keep working hard, and as long as they keep doing that the minutes they have to earn them on the field. They must not lose the mentality and work that has brought them here. He is giving a good version and here he stays. Maybe tomorrow you will see some more.”
Is it so complicated to change the chip?: “It’s very complicated, it’s not easy at all. You have to get the self-demand and motivation to match that of the other day. It happens to all teams, including Elche. They will come to the Bernabeu with more motivation. That’s why it’s so difficult to be a Real Madrid player, you have to go out and give your best. That’s how we’re going to go out tomorrow, aware of that. There are no doubts or excuses not to have a great game tomorrow.”
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