Following the 4-3 defeat to Bayern, Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa lashed out at the refereeing in an interview with ‘Movistar+’. The ‘merengue’ manager emphatically stated that the official ‘destroyed the game’ and ‘the tie’ by sending off Camavinga.
Real Madrid’s Alvaro Arbeloa did not hold back in his criticism of Eduardo Camavinga’s sending off in the final stages of the electrifying clash against Bayern. For the coach, the referee “destroyed” a knockout tie and a match that had been played at the highest level.
The French midfielder received a red card in the 86th minute, after being cautioned with a second yellow for delaying the restart of play by holding onto the ball. In statements to ‘Movistar+’, the ‘merengue’ coach raised his voice against the official’s performance.
“You cannot send off a player for an incident like that. I believe the referee didn’t even know he already had a card and ended up ruining a knockout tie and a game that were beautiful, balanced, and at their peak,” he vented.
“It was a giant performance from my players. I feel very sorry for them, for the effort they put in, and also for the fans of Real Madrid who travelled here or supported us from home… It hurts because Real Madrid will not win their sixteenth this year. But I leave with great pride in the work done. They gave their heart and soul, and we return to Madrid honoring our badge, as they gave their all,” he added.
Arbeloa also pointed out that Real Madrid had clear chances in the second half to seal the win. He admitted that, just before Luis Diaz’s goal, which made it 3-3, he made two substitutions that did not have the desired effect, as the Colombian’s goal completely changed the scenario.
“Now we must move forward. This is Real Madrid. The League is very complicated, but we have to keep fighting until the last matchday, until the end of the season. We have a badge to defend,” he concluded.
“I will understand any decision the club may make”
In the press room, Arbeloa was questioned about his future in the role and stated that he will accept “any decision” that the club’s board may make regarding his permanence on the bench for next season.
“Since I took this position, my goal has not been to promote my level as a coach. I haven’t sought to win through my decisions but rather by helping our athletes. We faced great teams, such as City, Atletico, or Bayern. They bear the mark of their coaches; I don’t know what mark this team carries of mine. Other examples have more of that identity, as Castilla did in my case. I have always helped the club in any way I could, and it will be like that until the last day,” he explained.
“This doesn’t concern me at all, and I will understand all decisions the club makes. I am a man of the house and, if I’m upset today, it’s not for me, it’s for Real Madrid. I suffer for the players, because my future matters little to me. It’s a minimal concern. I feel I did everything in my power to try and help my players,” he emphasized.
Arbeloa insisted that he doesn’t plan for tomorrow and reinforced the message: “It is a club decision. I am a man of the club and I just want Real Madrid to win, regardless of who is sitting on the bench.”
Finally, he returned to the topic of Eduardo Camavinga’s sending off: “It’s an action that nobody understands, sending off a player for something like that. It’s inexplicable, unfair, and we are deeply frustrated because the tie slipped away from us due to something uncontrollable. I feel for my players and their effort. I am proud of this group and the fans. If this defeat hurts, it’s because we won’t be chasing the sixteenth this year, and mainly because of how everything happened,” he concluded.
