There were many who were convinced Alvaro Arbeloa was the ideal long-term Real Madrid manager ahead of their meeting with Benfica on Wednesday night. The Spaniard had overseen a resurgance from Los Blancos which included a 6-1 thrashing of AS Monaco last week.
It seemed unthinkable that Madrid would lose at the Estadio da Luz given their recent upturn in form. But a nightmare 4-2 loss to Jose Mourinho's Portuguese side has raised huge doubts over Arbeloa.
That's not just because his team were bested in Portugal and collapsed out of automatic progress to the Champions League last 16. But it's his comments post-match that are bemusing and indicate he doesn't have the ability to be a success.
Arbeloa's ridiculous response to Madrid loss
When Madrid have fared well under Arbeloa he has put it down to his players and when they have faltered he has taken the blame. He did so after a humiliating exit from the Copa del Rey against Albacete.
Arbeloa has again taken the same stance over another embarrassing loss by claiming he was at fault. He told reporters (via Madrid Xtra):
"This loss is on me... I'm the culprit of all of this, just like against Albacete. It's my fault."
Anybody who watched tonight's game will know that many of his players warrant just as much blame as him. Vinicius Junior was quiet, Dean Huijsen calamitous and Alvaro Carreras careless.
It's all well and good ensuring the dressing room is a positive one but his continuous protection of his superstar players on high salaries will be his undoing. He should take inspiration from Mourinho who was in the opposite dugout, a winner who says it as it is.
Arbeloa didn't get sent off tonight unlike Raul Asencio and Rodrygo nor did he make glaring defensive mistakes. He has shown he doesn't have the aura of a Madrid boss because the way he speaks lets his players walk all over him.
Federico Valverde's correct reaction
Federico Valverde disagreed with Arbeloa's verdict that he was solely to blame for the defeat to Benfica. The Uruguayan midfielder gave an honest assessment of the huge setback (via Madrid Xtra):
“We have to be self-critical, responsible for what we did on the pitch. We shouldn’t blame anyone else. It’s the players who have to play, to step up on the pitch, and today we didn’t do what we had to do. We have to keep improving.”
Valverde has performed well for most of this season and spoken well about the situation the team finds itself in. He will be tasked with trying to get his teammates back on track when they face Rayo Vallecano this weekend.