No Retreat, No Surrender - El Espartano Alvaro Arbeloa Manager Thread

There's a lot of what ifs being thrown here and there and the truth is that we will never know, and honestly it doesn't matter.

What matters is that we are absolutely shit. We had good times under Xabi & AA, and bad times as well. I also don't think you can fully fault Xabi for how things are currently. The team has had PLENTY of chances after Xabi's sacking to get their heads together, but somehow still crumbled.

I am still gutted about Xabi's sacking (mainly because I still feel that the club was looking for a scapegoat), but I am more upset with the team's lack of professionalism, work ethic, and all the absolutely shit performance. At this point I am not even sure if it is a lack of tactics or just players thinking they are way above tactics.

 

Which wouldnt matter since by your own logic, Xabi would win La Liga via consistency against weaker teams. And Arbeloa reaching the UCL quarters winning nothing.

1 trophy >>> 0 trophy

 

According to what? Vibes?

Yes they looked better when Mbappe was out. What a surprise.

 

No because we'd still play shit on a stick. What would happen if the Mbappe of 2026 had showed up. I shudder to think.

Anyways, we are obviously not going to agree on this so agree to disagree

 

Honestly

unless a proven manager becomes available, might as well leave him. At least the players like him and he knows the issues. We should address the roster

 

So lemme get this straight... We are supposed to believe your hypothetical outcomes, yet my hypothetical outcomes doesn't fly?

Make that make sense.

 

The roster needs addressing that's is very clear. We like to focus on Mbappe and Vini but did you see Kimmich pinging passes left and right and trying to play his attackers in behind. We dont have that profile in our midfield. I dont want another kid, I want a proven player. Unfortunately the best ones are completely unattainable. CF, CB, CM, RW, LB are must buys. Or shift one of Mbappe/Vini to the right and ask them to shut up and do it for the team. A backup CF from LL should not be difficult. it is the rest that need thought put into it.

 

Because we were already 4 points down on Barca while having him for half a season. Xabi doesnt have the man management skills to make the team believe they can claw back that pointgap. On top of that our two most inform players after the turn of the year would probably continue to suck because he would alienate them even further, Mbappe with his injury and being slow to come back would mean there would be no one to score goals out of nowhere like Mbappe used to do. All in all we'd probably fall further back

 

Translation: all i have are assertions and what ifs, but you have to trustmebro.

No one cares. Fact of the matter is Arbeloa has done worse than Xabi by almost every important metric even with a healthier backline.

 

The players don’t want the smoke next season. They want Arbeloa to stay lol.

 

🚨 CONFIRMED: Mauricio Pochettino is on Real Madrid’s LIST!

He is highly regarded by the club and especially Florentino Pérez.

Information has been gathered about his profile and his ability to handle the club’s pressure. @FabriceHawkins pic.twitter.com/RtaKTtva6r

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) April 16, 2026

 

Why does this dude keep getting jobs lol

 

Perez has always had an hard-on for him for some reason. Probably a manager who likes massaging egos and his little pets.

 

That would be such a dumb move. I'd rather take Raul.

 

Hope it’s not true. Porch looks lost with the US team.

 

The juice is definitely gone with this one.

 

🚨 Real Madrid’s competitiveness in big matches under Arbeloa and his man-management are turning what is usually a straightforward decision (trophyless season = sacked) into a complicated one. @marca pic.twitter.com/Xd4A83qCwH

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) April 16, 2026

Think he deserves another season

 

🚨 Steve McManaman: "The history of previous seasons has always suggested Real Madrid will change the coach, and unfortunately I feel sorry for Arbeloa, because his game plan was excellent." pic.twitter.com/x2SS1divzt

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) April 16, 2026

🚨 Steven Gerrard: “I feel sorry for Álvaro Arbeloa and many Real Madrid players because they were much better than last week and were excellent throughout.

They defended & attacked better as a team.

You have to feel sorry for Arbeloa. He will probably lose his job, but I… pic.twitter.com/NnTBQ9SYwC

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) April 16, 2026

 

I wrote in January that the rot starts at the top and it is institutional.

It does not matter if it’s Arbeloa or someone else.

doesn’t matter what moves are made in the transfer market

The club needs a totally different philosophy and it is not forthcoming

 

I never wanted AA, but for sure feel bad for him since it was always an impossible task. the squad is not good enough and not balanced enough and that’s not on him.
Doesn't really matter if he stays or get fired, anyone replacing him is just another coach that is dumb enough to think he has any control on anything that is happening in this club or in the squad.
Having said that, giving AA another season is already giving up on next season.

 

People on this forum are underestimating the amount of control and power that Emery has at Villa. I think he knows he's got a good thing going on there, with the fans and boards full backing. He is also one of the highest paid managers in the world. I'm not sure he would come here at the drop of a hat.

Deschamps, Pochettino and Allegri seem like the most attainable options. The club won't bring back Raul, another ex-player that is a young and inexperienced manager. Perez will feel like that experiment has failed.

 

all of these names are just horrible ,i will take a lunatic like Conte over all of them,.atleast he wins league titles which we desperately need and is a crazy men like Klopp .....who i dont think is coming to this circus

 

Next coach is someone that accept he has no control. That’s not conte. It’s not klopp, it’s also not mourinho. none of them will get along with Perez

 

If the players didn't listen to Xabi they aren't going to listen to Emery. I like him, but he's a total nerd.