Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa conveyed an optimistic outlook ahead of their Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich, as his team aims for a comeback at the Allianz Arena. Trailing 2-1 from the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, Arbeloa believes the task is not as insurmountable as some perceive.
Arbeloa’s squad intends to maintain their strong historical record against Bayern in Germany. Despite being outplayed for significant portions of the first leg, Real Madrid came close to securing an equalizer in the final moments. The Real Madrid manager asserted that his players are filled with self-belief.
“First and foremost, we are Real Madrid. If there’s one team that can come to this stadium and turn things around, it’s us. We are a team that never surrenders, the club with 15 European Cups. We are Madrid, and we will return with our badge held high, or on top of it.”
“I’m not sure how many teams globally can claim to have won the European Cup 15 times. The Real Madrid coach believes, the players believe, and the club believes. Every single fan I’ve encountered in recent days believes we’re going to win. Everyone believes. We understand the difficulty; no one can predict what will happen tomorrow, but we will give our absolute best, and with that, we are confident we will win.”
Options Abound for Aurelien Tchouameni’s Absence
A key consideration for Arbeloa is identifying a replacement for Aurelien Tchouameni in the lineup. The French international has been a consistent performer but will be suspended for the upcoming match.
“We have numerous options and many players capable of filling Tchouameni’s role. Camavinga, Thiago, Ceballos, Valverde… I am aware of the starting eleven I will field tomorrow. They inspire great confidence in me. The substitutes will need to contribute significantly in the second half, as it promises to be a very long and intense match. I feel fortunate to have the squad at my disposal.”
Arbeloa: ‘We Don’t Require Any Miracles’
While Real Madrid possesses a legendary status unmatched by other clubs in the competition, Arbeloa acknowledged that their opponents also boast considerable pedigree.
“They are also a formidable team, one that can meet us eye-to-eye due to its history, mentality, and character… We must concentrate on ourselves, which is what truly matters and what we can demonstrate.”
Nonetheless, he believes a victory in Munich is entirely attainable.
“I don’t see a need for us to perform any miracles. If we had won the other day, it wouldn’t have been an extraordinary feat. Their goalkeeper was the MVP. We are capable of achieving this. No one who understands Real Madrid would consider a Real Madrid victory tomorrow to be a miracle.”
“We need to enhance various aspects of our gameplay. It’s crucial to capitalize on our opportunities; we won’t create as many as in the first leg. It comes down to confidence. We must score if we intend to win and advance. We need to play exceptionally well tomorrow.”
Naturally, Eduardo Camavinga would be the most likely replacement for Tchouameni, but his inconsistent form and injury concerns have raised questions about that certainty. It’s possible that the young player Thiago Pitarch could be selected ahead of him, with Brahim Diaz also a contender for playing time.
