Álvaro Arbeloa: “This is a new match, we’re not thinking about the last game”
· Yahoo Sports
Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa spoke form the Estadio Da Luz in Lisbon on Monday evening to preview the UEFA Champions League play-off first leg clash with Benfica, reflecting on their recent meeting in the league stage by saying, “for us, it’s a new match, we’re not thinking about anything else. It’s a new match… and we want to put in a great performance. There’s no other objective than to win.
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Arbeloa on the keys to the match
“We know how difficult tomorrow will be, what the atmosphere is like here and how demanding it always is for us. We must give our all to win, which is the objective.”
Are you planning to invite Mourinho to the ‘grey sofa’?
“No… well… if I invite him, it will be for lunch. He doesn’t need to sit there. You know that we’re good friends, that we wish each other well and that we have a great relationship.”
Arbeloa on a Mourinho return to Real Madrid one day
“As I just said, I can only say that I always wish Jose the best. My goal is to eliminate Benfica, obviously, and then for him to win everything. And from there, I wish him the best.”
Arbeloa on how much of the credit for this run goes to him
“I don’t know… I don’t think in terms of percentages. Since I arrived, I’ve seen a very good attitude from all the players and that has been key. In football, it’s much easier to be a manager than a player, because it’s easier to say what needs to be done than to do it. So much of the credit must go to the players. To their effort and hard work. The good results come thanks to the 20-25 players we have who prepare for every game as if it were a final. And with that mentality, that demand, good results are coming. But we are confident that we can go even further.”
Arbeloa on his speech to players pre-match
“It will be about football, as always. To win, we will have to play very well, and to do that, we have to do a lot of things right. We will have to defend well and attack well. We will have to be focused on set pieces. And we will have to play a very complete game for 90 minutes.”
Arbeloa on Benfica
“We expect a team, obviously, with more individual possibilities. But their spirit will be very similar to three weeks ago. They have a leader who sets the tone, the way they play and compete. From there, there are small nuances. But it will be a very competitive, tough game. And we must be prepared.”
Arbeloa on Mourinho talking of a “wounded” Madrid
“No, no, no. We always think about winning. Our goal is not only to eliminate Benfica, but to win the Champions League. Getting through the tie is not revenge, but a goal.”
Arbeloa on confidence with the players
“They have welcomed me very well from day one. The goal is the same: to work and win. Their willingness to welcome me has been maximum. Obviously, we haven’t been here very long, but I can’t ask for more than for them to continue with the same attitude.”
Arbeloa on whether he was surprised by Mourinho
“No, I don’t think he can surprise me; I know exactly what he’s capable of. I said here that it didn’t matter if they fielded their Youth League team, because the intensity would be maximum. Tomorrow… more of the same. They are capable of playing even better and we must be prepared for that. We must all be clear about what we are up against.”