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Arbeloa takes charge: 5️⃣ urgent challenges at Real Madrid
Jan 12 2026 18:17 · By onefootball.com · 30 Reads
Real Madrid begins a new era under the direction of Álvaro Arbeloa , who takes over the bench following the dismissal of Xabi Alonso . The coach from Salamanca arrives with the critical mission of steering a project that has lost its way in the past month. After a disappointing December, the "Spartan" must apply his leadership to restore the winning identity demanded by Santiago Bernabéu.
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The primary goal is to lift the team's morale. The recent defeat in the Spanish Super Cup and constant doubts have left the squad in a very low emotional state. Arbeloa must act as a psychologist to reconnect the group before the end of January, a month that appears crucial for the club's aspirations in all competitions.
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The biggest 'must' of the previous era is to recover the physical condition of the squad. The plague of injuries and physical setbacks suffered in recent months has reduced the team's competitiveness at key moments. The new coaching staff needs the players to regain the spark necessary to withstand the pace of an unforgiving schedule.
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In the tactical aspect, Arbeloa must stabilize a midfield lacking ideas. Previous experiments in the center have not fully succeeded, worsening the lack of fluidity in playmaking. Restructuring the team's core is vital for Real Madrid to dominate matches through possession and strategy.
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Another major challenge is fitting the puzzle in attack. Names like Mbappé, Vinicius, Rodrygo , Bellingham, or Gonzalo have not managed to combine successfully in a sustained manner. Arbeloa has the task of finding the ideal system for these stars to coexist and enhance their scoring ability without unbalancing the team.
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Finally, the priority is to achieve positive results urgently. The debut comes this Wednesday in the Copa del Rey against Albacete . And most importantly, the Champions League is just around the corner against Monaco and Benfica . Arbeloa has no margin for error.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.
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