Real Madrid News
‘Has always been to blame’: Former Real Madrid defender points fingers at Arbeloa after poor season
Former Real Madrid player Ivan Helguera has delivered a blunt assessment of the current situation at the club in an interview with Flashscore (h/t MARCA).
The former defender criticised Alvaro Arbeloa’s management and questioned the possibility of Jose Mourinho returning to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Criticism of Arbeloa
Helguera spent eight seasons at Real Madrid between 1999 and 2007, making more than 200 appearances and winning three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies.
The 51-year-old former star was critical of Arbeloa for the way things had been run and the fractured state of the dressing room at Real Madrid in the second half of the season.
“What has caused this to happen? It’s because you haven’t managed things well before. From my point of view, everything has always been fine, Arbeloa has always been to blame. Of course, in the end it’s difficult…,” he said.
Continuing, he added: “From a coach, Xabi Alonso, who was more demanding from the start, to zero demands regarding behavior, regarding how I’m going to manage this group. In theory, anything goes. Well, I think all these things have happened, right?
“But Arbeloa, obviously, from my point of view, is largely to blame, but so is whoever put Arbeloa there.”
Helguera expanded on it and criticised the club’s rapid move to entrust Arbeloa with managing a dressing room such as Real Madrid’s.
“Arbeloa was in charge of a reserve team that had only been around for five months, and suddenly… It’s not like things were going particularly well for him. We can’t say if he’s good, bad, or mediocre as a coach,” Helguera argued.
“And suddenly, he’s managing a team like Real Madrid. So, I think it’s not just Arbeloa who has mismanaged things.”
“I simply think he’s never faced these situations before, and he’s clearly made mistakes. Big ones. But those who put him there are also to blame, right?” he emphasised again.
On Mourinho’s potential return
Helguera also made it clear that he does not believe Mourinho is the ideal candidate for the current Real Madrid project.
The former star explained that his preferred option would be Jurgen Klopp, while expressing doubts about Mourinho because of his recent managerial career and the expectations surrounding his possible return.
“Mou has been a fantastic manager. He’s proven that in many places, but it’s true that he hasn’t coached at the top level for many years. So, that worries me. And on top of that, people want him to be a hardliner,” he said.
“Well, I don’t think that just because Mourinho is coming, there has to be a hardline approach to everything that happens at Real Madrid. You have to manage the group well, that’s all. I don’t know if it’s appropriate now.”
After a month into the new season, Aurelien Tchouameni is finally back in action for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season for the Merengues last night against Inter Milan after recovering from the muscular injury that delayed his campaign.
His return to fitness had raised questions over where he would fit into Mourinho’s plans.
Tchouameni has been a regular in Real Madrid’s midfield for several seasons under different managers, but the end of last season was far less straightforward.
His confrontation with Federico Valverde, combined with speculation over his future at the club, created uncertainty about his position. His lack of a proper pre-season also appeared to put him behind other midfield options.
Bernardo Silva had established himself as an important figure, while Eduardo Camavinga was also ahead of Tchouameni in terms of match fitness.
With Real Madrid looking for greater creativity in midfield, there were questions over whether the Frenchman would still be a first-choice player.
Key for Mourinho
According to AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital), however, Mourinho has no such doubts. Tchouameni remains a key player for the Portuguese coach and is expected to be a starter.
Mourinho sees the French international as a midfielder without a direct replacement in the squad.
For Jose, Tchouameni provides something that none of the other midfielders in the squad do – a more defensive and positional presence, combining his tactical discipline with considerable physical strength.
His ability to shield the defence and provide balance could be particularly important for a Real Madrid side that want to defend aggressively and attack quickly in transition.
For that reason, his absence at the start of the campaign has not changed the manager’s view of his importance.
Mourinho faces a midfield selection problem
The challenge for Mourinho now is finding a way to fit all the pieces together.
If Tchouameni is guaranteed a starting position and Valverde is considered untouchable as captain, the obvious consequence is that Bernardo could find himself starting from the bench.
The summer arrival had been given an important role in helping Real Madrid control and distribute possession from deeper positions.
However, with Tchouameni and Valverde both occupying midfield places, Mourinho cannot accommodate everyone in the same lineup.
How the Portuguese coach manages that competition will be interesting to see in the coming weeks.
