Coach says his club are always favourites as he prepares to cross swords with Manchester City in the Champions League knockout stages for fifth year in a row
T
his is Real Madrid. We know this because Álvaro Arbeloa keeps saying so. At the start of another press conference, his 25th since being promoted from the B team two months ago and the last before facing Manchester City, the club man who became the club manager was reminded of something he had said after beating Monaco. That night, he was told, you claimed that Madrid are always favourites. So, came the inevitable follow-up, the “even” left unsaid but hanging heavy: “Now are you favourites?”
There was a familiar look, the hint of a smirk, and a familiar answer too. “If I said Madrid are always favourites, that’s what I think,” Arbeloa replied. “We are Real Madrid. We never feel less than anyone, regardless of the circumstances, regardless of who we have in front of us. We’re Real Madrid, we shouldn’t feel inferior. We know our opponents, how good City are – champions two years ago – and how difficult it will be, but we go into it with enthusiasm, looking them in the eyes.”
They may have to look themselves in the eye first, or look deeper still. That night that Arbeloa said they were always favourites, a line he is held to now, Madrid put six past Monaco and they had needed it. In Arbeloa’s first game Madrid had been knocked out of the Copa del Rey at second division Albacete. Although they then won his first at the Bernabéu, an uninspiring 2-0 against Levante, it had been marked by whistles and white hankies, protesting supporters turning on those considered responsible for Xabi Alonso’s sacking. Now at least a little optimism was let back in, a tentative step taken towards reconciliation, with Madrid destined to finish in the top eight and heading off in La Liga to third-placed Villarreal, where they won 2-0, something seeming to shift their way.
