Real Madrid News
Arbeloa talks Guler, Valverde, Mbappe, Asencio, Vinicius, Brahim after Real Madrid 4-1 Elche
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa was full of pride after his side delivered an impressive 4-1 victory over Elche at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The result not only strengthened the team’s momentum but also showed the growing influence of several academy players within the squad.
Speaking to the media after the match, Arbeloa could not hide his satisfaction with the performance and the involvement of young players from the club’s famous academy.
For a coach who himself rose through the system, the night carried deep emotional meaning.
“For someone who came up through the youth system like me, it’s a proud day. It reminds me of the Real Madrid of the ‘Quinta del Buitre’ era, and I’m leaving with that feeling.”
Arbeloa then emphasised the importance of the victory itself.
“We faced a very tough opponent, one that demands a lot from you and plays in a way that makes things difficult. The players put in an enormous effort. I’m very grateful for what many of them are doing.”
Youth team revolution
One of the most emotional moments for Arbeloa came when several academy graduates stepped onto the pitch at the Bernabeu.
Seeing players he once coached make their debut clearly meant a lot to him.
“I can die happy after a night like tonight, for a youth academy player and a coach who has spent many years in the academy, alongside so many of them.
“For Yanez and Aguado, who were the first players I coached when they were 13 or 14, to be able to give them their debut at the Bernabéu today means something indescribable to me.”
The Bernabeu crowd was also treated to a stunning goal from Arda Guler, which quickly became one of the biggest talking points of the night.
Arbeloa was just as amazed as everyone else watching the match.
“We need to get a frame and put it on the wall. It’s unbelievable. Wonderful. I saw everyone put their hands to their heads—I did too.
“It was worth paying for a ticket, or two or three, just to see what he did.”
On Valverde and Fran Garcia
Arbeloa also reserved special praise for Federico Valverde, whose influence continues to grow within the team.
The midfielder’s goal-scoring ability has made him one of the most important figures in the squad.
“Yeah, yeah, at this rate, he’s going to be the next Hugo Sanchez too. It’s absolutely crazy what he’s doing, with the freedom he’s been given.
“It’s been a great experience living day-to-day with him. Seeing him lead the group by example. Congratulations to him, and keep it up.”
Another player who received praise from the manager was Fran Garcia, who has quietly become an important part of the team in recent weeks.
“I can only thank him. When you’re not playing, it’s not easy to train the way he does, without ever showing a sour face. I wish there were 25 Fran Garcías on the team.”
Update on injured players
Arbeloa also briefly addressed injury concerns ahead of the upcoming clash with Manchester City. When asked about Raul Asencio, he gave a short response:
“I don’t know.”
The manager was also asked about the condition of star forward Kylian Mbappe ahead of the European showdown.
“We’ll have training tomorrow; we’ll give Mbappe a tryout, and I’ll talk to him to see how he’s doing and how he’s feeling. I hope he’ll be available—that would be great news.”
On Brahim and Vinicius
Arbeloa also praised Brahim Diaz for his current form, highlighting the importance of confidence for attacking players.
“He’s happy. All players are happy when they play and perform as well as he does. He had a sensational game against City; we need him to help us.”
Finally, the manager addressed the effort shown by Vinicius Jr., who did not score in the match but worked tirelessly for the team.
“I thanked him for the tremendous effort he’s put in and has been putting in over the past two months. Playing as much as he is requires a huge effort on his part.
“I want players with that kind of fighting spirit when things get tough. Time to rest up—we’ll be back on the field Tuesday,” he concluded.
Source: AS
Real Madrid News
Stats: VAR has disallowed more than twice as many Real Madrid goals as Barcelona’s since 2018
It has been almost a decade since VAR was introduced in the Spanish top flight, but the controversies simply do not seem to stop.
Clubs have constantly debated the inconsistencies of decisions made using technology and whether it actually adds something positive to the game.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid have had 42 goals overturned by VAR since the technology was introduced in La Liga, more than any other club in the competition.
Madrid lead the ranking by a considerable margin, with Barcelona having just 19 goals disallowed through technological intervention.
Real Madrid comfortably lead VAR statistics
Since VAR’s introduction in the 2018-19 season, referees have initially awarded 42 Madrid goals that were subsequently ruled out following video reviews.
Atletico Madrid and Villarreal are joint second with 22 each, followed by Celta Vigo, Real Sociedad and Sevilla with 20 apiece.
Barcelona sit seventh with 19, meaning Madrid have experienced 23 more VAR goal reversals than their biggest rivals.
The figures cover eight completed seasons and the beginning of the current campaign. Madrid’s latest disallowed goal came during Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Villarreal.
Vinicius Junior appeared to double the hosts’ advantage, but VAR identified an earlier incident in the same move in which the Brazilian pulled defender Nathan Saliba’s hair.
Referee Isidro Diaz de Mera reviewed the footage on the pitchside monitor, cancelled the goal and sent Vinicius off.
The numbers need greater context
The numbers are striking, but they do not necessarily tell the complete story about Real Madrid or the quality of Spanish refereeing.
One important factor to consider when interpreting these numbers is Los Blancos’ attacking style.
Over recent seasons, Madrid have frequently relied on quick transitions, exploiting space behind opposition defences through explosive forwards such as Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo.
Players making repeated runs beyond the defensive line are naturally more exposed to marginal offside decisions, particularly when attacks depend on perfectly timed passes at high speed.
That does not mean every disallowed Madrid goal involved offside. However, the team’s direct attacking approach offers a plausible explanation for why such situations might arise more frequently.
Madrid also create numerous attacking opportunities, making raw totals less informative without comparing disallowed goals against total goals scored and the reasons behind each VAR intervention.
VAR corrections do not settle Madrid’s refereeing concerns
These VAR decisions also do not answer Madrid’s growing concerns with the consistency of refereeing decisions in La Liga.
Madrid’s complaints concern the application of VAR in different games under similar circumstances, not simply the merits of individual decisions.
The Villarreal incident offers a clear example of VAR correcting an initial decision, but it does not explain why it did not punish Stole Dimitrievski in a similar situation against Vinicius.
There is a lot that needs to be addressed in La Liga, both in terms of on-field refereeing and the use of VAR.
It remains to be seen whether Madrid’s repeated complaints force the federation to improve the standards in La Liga and how the situation pans out through the course of the season.
