Relief or Shock? Real Madrid Players React to Arbeloa’s First Training as Manager
14 January 2026
Relief or concern? Players\' take after Arbeloa\'s first session
\nReal Madrid players expressed satisfaction after their first training under new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, signaling a shift in mood in the locker room following weeks of tension.
\nAccording to Spain\'s El Chiringuito, early feedback from the squad was positive after the session, hinting at a fresh vibe on the training ground.
\nContext and what to watch next
\nThis upbeat start arrives after a turbulent spell marked by leaks about deep divisions in the dressing room and clashes with senior players, a leadership void, and doubts about the club\'s backing, factors that helped end the tenure of the former coach less than eight months in after a Spanish Super Cup defeat in Saudi Arabia to Barcelona.
\nDiscipline issues in the final stretch of Alonso\'s era were also highlighted, with players arriving late and leaving early, which fed the sense of upheaval inside the squad.
\nReal Madrid now prepare to face Albacete in the Copa del Rey, Arbeloa\'s first competitive match in charge for the club.
\nEnd of the day, if Arbeloa can restore harmony, maybe even the locker room coffee machine will stop protesting about the Wi-Fi.
\nPunchline 1: If Arbeloa can straighten this out, perhaps even my calendar will stop scheduling drama and start scheduling wins.\nPunchline 2: They say a good coach turns doubters into believers; Arbeloa might turn the training kit into a trophy magnet.<\/p>