New Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa is already under scrutiny after granting his squad two days off following a narrow victory, a decision that has displeased sections of the fanbase.
The team returned to training after a mini-break that sparked debate among supporters, who were unhappy despite a win over Rayo Vallecano, which many considered lackluster.
Arbeloa defended the rest period, stating it was necessary to capitalize on a lighter schedule. “Right now it's time to work. We have two weeks now in which we are going to be able to work on all levels... I've been here for 18-19 days, practically with a game every three days, without having much time to work,” the coach explained before the Rayo match.
His plan is to use the current break—with only one game per week—to implement his ideas and improve the team's physical condition, a task led by returning fitness coach Antonio Pintus. The coach is setting the counter to zero, aiming for a fresh start.
Arbeloa's approach echoes that of Zinedine Zidane, who also took over mid-season in 2016. Zidane recently recalled having a crucial three-week period to work on fitness and tactics, which was foundational to his success. “We had actually realised that they would need to do the cardio, get gas, as we used to say,” Zidane recalled.
Arbeloa now hopes a similar period of focused training will yield results, with the next match at Mestalla against Valencia on Sunday. However, the initial decision to rest players after unconvincing performances has placed him under early pressure to deliver noticeable improvements on the pitch.
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