Alvaro Arbeloa replaced Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid's caretaker manager in early January and has encountered a topsy-turvy spell thus far. The Spaniard made the step up from the Castilla team to take over a beleagured Los Blancos senior side.
The highs for Arbeloa include a 6-1 mauling of AS Monaco and four straight La Liga wins. The lows include a nightmare 4-2 loss to Benfica and a shock 3-2 defeat to Segunda Division outfit Albacete.
Alonso's departure is still wrapped in controversy not least because he left with a record of 24 wins in 34 games. He was expected to be Carlo Ancelotti's long-term successor but parted ways just seven months in the job.
Real Madrid star preferred Alonso
The mood in the Madrid dressing room is thought to have improved following Arbeloa's appointment. Vinicius Junior has in particular been loving life under the Spanish coach and bounced back into form and is reportedly now open to extending his contract.
Vinicius and Alonso's relationship was believed to have been tense and this was on display several times this season. But Kylian Mbappe had no such issues with the former Bayer Leverkusen boss.
According to El Partidazo de COPE, Mbappe was "happier with Alonso than with Arbeloa," which is the latest shock revelation to take hold at the Bernabeu. The French forward has remained his team's talisman and was on target in a 2-0 win over Valencia on Sunday (February 8th).
Reports claimed that the 27-year-old hurried back from a thigh injury and to fly over to Saudi Arabia to try and help Madrid beat Barcelona. He was only fit enough to enter the Supercopa de Espana final in the last 20 minutes and the Catalans prevailed in a 3-2 win.
This was Alonso's last game in charge and he left the club the following morning although its disputed whether he departed mutually or through dismissal. But Mbappe was always positive when speaking about the 44-year-old.
Mbappe might no longer feel Madrid's centerpiece
It was well known that Alonso's Madrid team was built around Mbappe and he was at the forefront of his tactical setup. He starred during his former manager's short-lived reign, bagging 30 goals in 28 games.
Mbappe has continued in such fashion under Arbeloa with nine goals in six appearances. There has been so sign of discontent judging by his displays in recent weeks.
The only reason Mbappe might not be as happy under Arbeloa might stem from the caretaker coach's desire to make Vinicius as an equally important focus in his team. That has resulted in the Brazilian returning to form.