Overview
- Álvaro Arbeloa said he alone will be accountable for results and accepted blame for the Copa exit, citing a lack of physicality, play and ideas.
- Kylian Mbappé is named to the matchday list, though his place in the XI remains doubtful because of a knee sprain sustained before the Supercopa final.
- Friday’s session lacked Rodrygo, Antonio Rüdiger, Andriy Lunin, Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy and Trent Alexander-Arnold, according to the coach.
- Arbeloa clarified that Courtois, Carreras, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Jude Bellingham were left out of the Albacete trip as an injury‑prevention measure and said he is working with Antonio Pintus to regain peak fitness.
- He defended Real Madrid’s youth academy, praised Vinícius Júnior’s leadership and outlined a more attacking, character‑driven approach for the team.