Arbeloa's Bench Days End in Barcelona
Arbeloa facing tough criticism after losing games and disappointing Real Madrid fans.
Alvaro Arbeloa, the Real Madrid legend who once called the dressing room his home base, is facing one of his worst moments since taking over the bench from Xabi Alonso. After two consecutive losses to Mallorca and Girona, and a disappointing defeat against Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu, his critics in Catalan press have turned their attention to him. In an opinion column titled 'A Bluff Called Alvaro', published on Tuesday by Enric Jove in Sport magazine, Arbeloa receives a scathing review for his leadership of Real Madrid.
He's referred to as a "cheap bubbly", "president&s puppy with a blackboard," and a "spokesman in a tracksuit. " The article criticizes him as trying too hard, going against the fans' expectations, and failing his own team. Arbeloa's career at Real Madrid is expected to be considered poor, even if he remains haughty in his speeches.
Arbeloa's critics even speculate that it doesn't matter whether he makes it past the Champions League this season, with today's statement sounding risky.