Round of 16 Departure
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Álvaro Arbeloa’s debut as interim manager of Real Madrid couldn’t have started on a more disappointing note. The former player succeeded Xabi Alonso, who was let go after the team lost the Spanish Super Cup final to Barcelona. Now, Real Madrid faces another setback as they were eliminated in the round of 16 of the Copa Del Rey, losing 3-2 to LaLiga 2 side Albacete.
Albacete currently sits in 17th place in the Spanish second division and has a squad valued at just €14.5 million. In comparison, Kylian Mbappé alone has a market value of €200 million. Despite having talents like Vinicius Junior and Arda Güler in the lineup, it wasn’t enough to secure a win. Real Madrid’s starting XI had a combined market value of €561 million, while Albacete’s was only €4.6 million. With this defeat, Real Madrid’s only remaining chances for silverware are in LaLiga, where they trail Barcelona by four points, and the Champions League.
The choice to place Arbeloa at the helm, even temporarily, was met with doubt from some fans, and this Copa Del Rey upset is unlikely to change their sentiments. Before the match, Arbeloa stated, “On Saturday, I turn 43, and 20 of those years have been spent at this club. I experience every day at the best club in the world. This club is about winning, winning, and winning again. During my playing days, I absorbed these values from the people in the dressing room.” However, that sentiment evidently did not resonate at the Carlos Belmonte Stadium this Wednesday.
