Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defender involved in a heated altercation with teammate
These are tense times at Real Madrid with results not meeting expectations and the team set for another campaign without a major trophy.
Given the situation, there is escalating tension within the locker room, with players like Dani Carvajal and Dani Ceballos having some dispute with manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
Moreover, it has been suggested that the Spanish core in the locker room are tired of the manager’s preferential treatment towards some of the bigger stars in the squad.
At the same time, there appear to be some tension between the players themselves.
Antonio Rudiger involved in a heated argument
Indeed, according to ESPN, Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger had a heated altercation with one of his teammates at the Valdebebas training facilities a few weeks ago.
The German international, known to wear his heart on his sleeve, seemingly ‘lost temper’ and caused a ‘heated scene’ with a teammate at Valdebebas.
Those around the dressing room, however, downplayed the incident, suggesting that it is how Rudiger’s temperament is.
The veteran defender is an extremely competitive individual, and it is not uncommon for tempers to flare over, especially when the team is going through a difficult time.
However, there have to be some concerns growing within the club about the issues in the locker room, with a recent video clip also showing Carvajal mocking Trent Alexander-Arnold during the Real Betis game.
As for Rudiger, he is seen as a dressing room leader at the Spanish capital club and remains a mainstay in their defensive line. As such, a new contract is on the horizon for the German, with his current one set to expire at the end of the season.
Real Madrid’s adventure so far under new coach Jose Mourinho has been far from perfect and this fact shouldn’t be lost even after the team’s brilliant comeback win over AS Roma in midweek.
However, there are areas where Los Blancos have shown a clear improvement under Mourinho, when compared to previous bosses such as Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.
One of those areas has been set plays, with Real Madrid appearing far more potent from set pieces this season.
A clear improvement from last season
As reported by Diario AS, the three goals in Rome, all from Arda Guler corners inside a seven-minute blitz, were the perfect advert for the work being done at Valdebebas.
Those strikes took Real Madrid’s set-piece tally to seven goals in just ten matches this season. Four of them have come in La Liga, one from a corner and three from free kicks, with the trio in Rome completing the haul.
It is a striking figure when set against last season’s return. Under Alonso and Arbeloa, Madrid managed 12 set-piece goals across the entire campaign, all in La Liga, split evenly between six from corners and six from free kicks.
On current trends, this side looks well placed to surpass that number comfortably.
The reason behind Real Madrid’s improvement
Attacking set pieces are led at Valdebebas by Pedro Machado, with the whole coaching staff involved and Mourinho himself giving the final green light on every routine.
Defending them, meanwhile, falls to Sami Khedira, though it is treated as a collective effort. Mourinho’s appreciation of that teamwork was clear when Bellingham headed in a Guler free kick against Espanyol, prompting the manager to leap up and embrace his assistants.
Machado, one of Mourinho’s most trusted lieutenants, has followed him from Fenerbahce to Benfica and now Madrid, part of a backroom team blending experience with young, ambitious talent.
On the pitch, Guler is the undisputed master when available, his left foot the key weapon, with Bernardo Silva, Trent Alexander-Arnold and even Diomande also trusted to initiate attacks.
Such meticulous strategy has helped Real Madrid turn into a potent side from set-pieces this season.
Samuel
May 1, 2026 at 4:35 pm
Real Madrid, if they are to get back to winning trophies , they will have to clear out the old stock, and bring in energy, experience and better tactics only then will they regain their place on the European stage.