Real Madrid superstars are always under a microscope, but after the drama that unfolded under Xabi Alonso combined with the team losing trophies repeatedly recently, there has been a lot more media vitriol and even fan skepticism directed towards the biggest players on the Merengues.
Since Real Madrid won the Champions League and La Liga the season before his arrival, Kylian Mbappe has born the brunt of that criticism. But Jude Bellingham and even Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde have received harsh criticism from the fans.
Unlike Xabi Alonso, new Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa, who funnily enough once won the Champions League with Alonso as a teammate not but 10-15 years ago, has taken on the willing role of protecting his superstar players.
Alvaro Arbeloa supports his supporters
And ahead of the Bayern Munich first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, Arbeloa shielded both Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham from leading questions by the press.
The Spanish coach was asked if Mbappe understands what Real Madrid is about. He deftly replied at the press conference before the Bayern game, via the Madrid Zone, "Does Mbappé know what Real Madrid is about? Of course he does, he knows it perfectly. He spent his whole life dreaming of playing here. The things he's done to get here were not easy."
And then when asked if Bellingham causes Real Madrid to change, implying that they change for the worse when he is back in, Arbeloa said the exact opposite and that Real Madrid are better with the England international, via Madrid Xtra, "What changes is that we are a better team, I am convinced of that. It has different qualities to other players and when we are in the field we have to adapt. That's what football is all about, about having those relationships between the players. But it's a blessed problem to have Bellingham fit into the team.”
The press know what they are doing with these questions. They want Alvaro Arbeloa to let just one word slip, let his guard down, and then attack. Instead, Arbeloa does not mince words, using his tongue as a shield to deflect the way the press want to pain Mbappe as a villain who disrespects the club and does not care for it but a prop for his own accolades and numbers, nor will he let them imply that Bellingham unbalances the team. He values all his players, not just Vinicius Junior, with whom he has obviously fostered a very good relationship after the Alonso disaster.