Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa admitted the defeat was painful after his side were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by second-division Albacete.
Los Blancos fell 3-2 in a dramatic Round of 16 tie at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte, decided by Jefte Betancor’s 94th-minute winner. Gonzalo García had looked to force extra time with a 91st-minute header, but Albacete hit back late to seal their first ever competitive win over Real Madrid.
The match was Arbeloa’s first game in charge following Xabi Alonso’s departure earlier this week, with the former defender stepping up from the reserve team.
As revealed in a report by ESPN, Arbeloa did not hide his disappointment after the game. “At this club a draw is bad, a tragedy, so imagine a defeat like this. It is painful, especially against a lower division team. Obviously we have to improve,” he said.
He went further to accept full responsibility, saying, “I’m responsible, I take the decisions: the team, how we want to play, the substitutions. We’ll try to recover our morale and physically, and improve for the game on Saturday.”
The former defender then defended his team selection, which left several senior players out of the squad, including Thibaut Courtois, Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappé.
“I was convinced the squad was the right one, and I still think that,”Arbeloa said.
“We have an extraordinary squad, with great players. It isn’t easy for them to do everything I’ve asked of them after just one day in the job. I don’t regret anything. I’d pick the same team again.”
Real Madrid’s cup exit came just three days after their defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa final, a result that preceded Alonso parting ways with the club.
