Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa defended his choice of Trent Alexander-Arnold over Dani Carvajal in recent matches, describing media questions as unfair. He also brushed off Kylian Mbappe's apparent support for Jose Mourinho on Instagram. The comments came after a 2-1 La Liga win over Alaves.
Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa pushed back against criticism of his team selections during a post-match press conference following the 2-1 home victory over Alaves on Tuesday. He opted for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back instead of club captain Dani Carvajal, a decision repeated through the Champions League quarter-finals run. Carvajal came on as a substitute for his 300th appearance for the club, with Mbappe scoring the opener to end a four-match winless streak across competitions. Arbeloa, who took over in January after Xabi Alonso's brief tenure, stressed his selections are purely football-driven. 'Trent is showing a good level. He deserves to play; his performance is beyond question,' Arbeloa said. He praised Carvajal, calling him ready for Spain's 2026 World Cup squad and denying any personal motives. 'I’ve always had a good relationship with him – I’ve always treated him with affection, respect, and admiration,' he added, urging reporters not to create difficult positions. On Mbappe's reported like of an Instagram graphic linking Mourinho to a Madrid return, Arbeloa was dismissive. The France captain, Madrid's top Liga scorer with over 131 million followers, engaged with content about the former coach's potential comeback. 'I don’t care whether he likes Mourinho, Julia Roberts, or whoever,' Arbeloa responded. Real Madrid sit nine points behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga after their European exit to Bayern Munich this month. Carvajal's contract expires at season's end, with Arbeloa leaving renewal talks to the player and club. The team faces Betis away on Friday in their next match.
