Real Madrid did not have it easy against Villarreal at the Estadio de la Ceramica last night, but they pulled through with grit to take home all three points.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice on the night – once from open play and once from the penalty spot – to hand his side the 2-0 win and take three massive points against La Liga’s third-placed side.
With the result, Los Blancos put pressure on Barcelona and even take over as leaders temporarily with 51 points.
Arbeloa’s presser
Mbappe just cannot stop scoring. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa faced the press after his team’s important win over Villarreal last night and praised the players for their commitment to taking all three points.
“The players’ commitment is undeniable, as is the effort they have put in on a pitch like this against a great Villarreal side. We knew it was one of the most difficult away games in the whole of LaLiga.”
“We were playing away against the third-placed team. It’s a team victory, and we’re very happy to take the three points,” he added.
Speaking on where the team must still improve and do better, the newly appointed manager said,
“We have to keep working. We’ve shown that we’re a very serious, very solid team, but we still have room for improvement.”
“We have a lot to improve in all aspects, starting with this great solidity and the great work of all the players. This team is going places and I don’t think this is the limit,” he added.
On the team’s unity
Vinicius Jr., Alvaro Arbeloa
Arbeloa advocates for unity in the dressing room. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
Arbeloa has called for togetherness and unity from the very first day he took over, and he once again emphasised the importance of the same after the game last night.
“For me, that’s the most important thing in a team: knowing that we have to stick together. We’re going to go through some very difficult, very challenging situations, and it’s through unity that we achieve our goals.”
“That’s what I wanted to emphasise to them from day one because we’ve been able to work on it a lot on the pitch and for me the most important thing is that they are united.”
Explaining what he meant by unity through examples, the coach continued by saying,
“We saw it last Tuesday with that celebration after Vini Jr.’s goal and we saw it again today with Brahim. I’ve found a fantastic group who really appreciate each other, who work together, help each other.”
Speaking on how regular starters and substitutes must co-exist with harmony in any top side, keeping alive that feeling of unity, Arbeloa said,
“This is the first basic rule of team sports: unity among teammates, sacrifice. There have been a lot of people who haven’t played, but who are training very well, looking for their opportunity, and also contributing.”
“It seems that games are won only by the eleven players who play, but there are many who are helping us a lot and giving us a lot. We have to give credit to all the players,” he added.
On Vinicius and the counter-attacking
The Real Madrid coach then spoke on how he aimed to bring the best out of his players without imposing a new style, and how counter-attacking was Real Madrid’s nature.
“I can’t go against the nature of the players. Quite the contrary. I have to try to take advantage of it. We have many players who are very dominant in space and fast, who also tend to make good decisions.”
“When we can run, we’re going to do it because it’s in our nature and because it makes a difference. It’s going to be one of our weapons throughout the season,” he added.
Finally, he praised Vinicius Jr once again for the performance he delivered against Villarreal.
“We’re seeing, just like last Tuesday, a superb Vinicius Jr. whom we have to take advantage of.”
“We have to look for him as many times as possible, create situations where we can free him up, where he can go one-on-one to unsettle the opposition and produce the kind of quality actions he has done throughout the match,” he added.
“I have always said that we are extremely lucky to have him doing such a great job and I am very happy to have him in the team,” Arbeloa concluded.
Source: Real Madrid website