When Alvaro Arbeloa was appointed as Real Madrid's caretaker manager there was no confirmation from the club about how long he'd be in charge. It's been a guessing game for many reporters with many suggesting he'd continue if the season ended with a trophy.
The main consensus was that Arbeloa signed a contract which expired at the end of the campaign. Perhaps this was to allow the board to assess the situation and whether the Spaniard has the makings of a long-term Los Blancos boss.
Arbeloa had fared well in recent weeks and looked to have gained supporters upstairs who needed him to perform well after their decision to dismiss Xabi Alonso. But a 4-2 defeat to Benfica has raised doubts about the 43-year-old taking over on a permanent basis.
Real Madrid's view on Arbeloa revealed
Arbeloa seemed to lift the mood in the dressing room and help Vinicius Junior get back to his best. A 6-1 win over Monaco was followed by a 2-0 victory against Villarreal.
This helped Arbeloa put a humiliating 3-2 loss to Segunda Division minnows Albacete in the Copa del Rey behind him. There was enthusiasm regarding the Spaniard being able to deliver trophy success come the end of the season.
The loss to Benfica, which means Madrid face the Portuguese side again in the Champions League's playoffs, has undoubtedly impacted Arbeloa's hopes of getting the job full-time. It's claimed by Mario Cortegana of The Athletic (via Madrid Xtra) that nobody at the club describes his role as a long-term commitment.
Whether that means the higher-ups have decided Arbeloa isn't the man for the job permanently remains to be seen. He is under pressure to beat Benfica given that no manager in the club's history has failed to guide Los Merengues to the knockout rounds of the European competition.
Real Madrid need an experienced manager
When Madrid announced Arbeloa as Alonso's replacement, the main concern was his lack of senior-level experience. He had been in charge of the club's youth Castilla team since last summer and was only months into that job.
Alonso struggled dealing with player power during his seven months in the Bernabeu dugout and that's probably why Arbeloa has taken a different approach. He has protected his players after defeats and attributed wins to them and not himself.
Arbeloa's lack of experience was always going to be an issue because he isn't used to such a high-profile role. That's why Florentino Perez must turn to a coach with a proven resume this summer and not a young exciting option who hasn't coached such big names.