Arbeloa doubles down: European clash takes precedence as Madrid focus shifts to Bayern, not Barcelona
4 April 2026
Real Madrid coach ÁLvaro Arbeloa is making the European duel the top priority after a surprising 2-1 loss at Mallorca, as they prepare for Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg at the Bernabéu.
In the wake of the setback, Arbeloa urged his players to pivot quickly, saying they must focus on Tuesday's match in Madrid, a crucial step in the Champions League fight, after the La Liga heartbreak on Saturday.
“What I need from them is to start thinking about Tuesday’s game… as soon as they walk out of the locker room, this match should be over for them,” he remarked during the post-game press conference.
Read also
Arbeloa: Players failed to understand they had to give 200% to win
The England legend: Salah is hurt, confidence shaken
Before America and Iran… historic wars hosted by World Cup stadiums
Bayern Munich: European giants in focus
La Liga vs Barça clash and the schedule
Arbeloa: He demands 200% from his players
“I need my players to believe we can win on Tuesday; it’s a very important game in the Champions League, and we must give our best performance, with support from our fans against a big opponent like Bayern Munich,” Arbeloa added, reiterating that the key is focusing on Tuesday rather than the distractions of the Barcelona game.
He also addressed the question of whether Atlético Madrid’s later clash would matter, saying, “Well… that’s not something I can control; what matters is my team and preparing for Tuesday. I don’t waste time on what I cannot influence.”
Bellingham’s rhythm and morale
Regarding Jude Bellingham’s readiness, Arbeloa noted: “He’s been out for weeks; against Atlético Madrid he played 20 minutes, today a bit over half an hour. The goal is to keep him in rhythm; we can’t expect him to be at his peak after such a layoff, since this is only his second game back, so we must be patient.”
On whether the defeat could dampen morale ahead of the spectacular night in Europe, he was confident: “No, never. I know my players well and they understand how important Tuesday is.”
He added: “Sometimes you have days when luck isn’t on your side, and things don’t go as you want, but that’s behind us now. We must turn the page and prepare fully for the upcoming match.”
Punchline time: If focus were a weapon, Arbeloa would be a sniper—quiet, precise, and somehow still managing to quiet Barcelona until Tuesday. Punchline 2: Tuesday’s game is a VIP pass; Barcelona can wait in the locker until the ticket booth opens again.
