Arbeloa wants Vinicius to be happy again at Madrid
After reports of discontent among the Real Madrid squad under Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa has praised the players after his appointment as head coach.
Arbeloa was named as Los Blancos' head coach after Xabi Alonso left the role by mutual consent, according to director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueno.
Madrid is currently second in LaLiga, four points behind Barcelona, and seventh in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League with two games to go.
However, reports of disagreements with players, such as Vinicius Junior, seemingly placed more pressure on Alonso to deliver results.
Arbeloa, who will take charge of his first game on Thursday (AEDT) when Madrid faces Albacete in the Copa del Rey, believes the squad does not get the credit it deserves.
"I want him [Vinicius Junior] to dance and enjoy himself," Arbeloa said.
"I think we've all seen the season and how hard they worked in the Supercopa final. We have a great squad, and there are people here with six European cups, who have been champions, and it seems that this is soon forgotten.
"There are good guys. It's not something I'm too worried about. We have a squad of great professionals; they're all very good guys.
"There's no one more interested in winning than the players. I know what it's like to be a Madrid player. I told them this morning that the best time of my life was as a Madrid player. They are very demanding of themselves."
Madrid is the team Albacete has faced the most times in its entire history without ever beating it, losing 11 of 14 encounters, and it has always conceded against it at Carlos Belmonte.
Los Blancos are unbeaten in their past seven away games in all competitions and could go eight consecutive away games without defeat for the first time since the start of the 2024-2025 season.
