Alvaro Arbeloa does not believe Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior have gained an unfair status as Real Madrid's 'untouchables', saying he always wants his best players on the field ahead of facing Rayo Vallecano.
It has been another tumultuous week for the Spanish giants, with Madrid failing to make the top eight of the Champions League standings in dramatic fashion on Wednesday.
Having had Raul Asencio and Rodrygo sent off, Madrid succumbed to a 4-2 defeat to Jose Mourinho's Benfica, with goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scoring the Lisbon side's fourth goal deep into second-half stoppage time.
Trubin's header sent Mourinho's men into the play-offs on goal difference, and Friday's draw then paired them with Madrid once again.
Madrid are also second in LaLiga, albeit just one point behind Barcelona ahead of this weekend's games, and Arbeloa's reluctance to rotate his star players has been debated in the Spanish media.
At Saturday's pre-match press conference, the former full-back said: "I understand the debates, but I want to have the best players on the field.
"The more minutes they are available to the team, the better. We saw it at Villarreal, where Mbappe's goal came from a very good action by Vinicius. They are players capable of deciding a game at any time.
"There are people – who are not Madrid fans – who will not want them to be on the pitch, but the players you have mentioned are among the top 10 in the world.
"It's not my confidence in them; it's their performance levels that keep them on the pitch."
Vinicius has endured arguably his most difficult campaign at Madrid, being limited to seven goals and nine assists so far this term, after registering at least 33 goal involvements in each of the previous four seasons.
But when it comes to attacking sequence involvements, Mbappe (258) and Vinicius (203) have been Madrid's two most influential players since the end of the Club World Cup.
Asked if his team had gone back to square one after their loss to Benfica, Arbeloa added: "No. We are aware of the difficulty of the match against Rayo Vallecano.
"We are focused on finding a high level again, on continuing to work and improve. Everyone's level will have to be very high to win all the games. That is our goal."
Rayo are 16th in the table, only one point above the relegation zone, and their head coach Inigo Perez expects Madrid to issue a strong response after their midweek loss.
"Against such powerful teams, losing before kick-off is a danger," he said. "Madrid's players have a very high mental capacity, and tomorrow, it won't affect them".
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Real Madrid – Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe has scored the opening goal on 21 occasions in LaLiga since the start of last season, the most by any player in Europe's five big European leagues in that time.
Rayo Vallecano – Jorge de Frutos
De Frutos has scored six goals in LaLiga this season, in 19 appearances, equalling his highest tally in a single top-flight campaign (six goals in 36 games last season).
MATCH PREDICTION – REAL MADRID WIN
Though Arbeloa's reign has already brought humiliating defeats in the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, Madrid have won their first two LaLiga games under him.
Both of those victories – against Levante and Villarreal – came to nil. Arbeloa could now become only the second Madrid manager to not concede in his first three games in the competition this century, after Rafa Benitez.
Madrid are also unbeaten in their last 15 home matches against Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga (W13 D2), their longest run without defeat at home against them in the competition.
And Los Blancos have defeated Rayo more often than they have any other team in LaLiga history, both overall (32 wins in 45 meetings) and at home (18 wins in 22).
Rayo have picked up points in six of their last 10 LaLiga meetings with Madrid (W2 D4 L4), however, after losing each of their previous 17 matches against them in the competition.
But if Madrid get their noses in front, it will be exceedingly difficult for their visitors. Los Blancos are the only team in LaLiga to not drop a single point after scoring the opening goal in the competition this season (15/15).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Real Madrid – 71.4%
Rayo Vallecano – 12.1%
Draw – 16.5%
Lovebug2
1
Madrid will lose again know this
Lovebug2
1
When a coach is the worstestest or whatever, he goes about singing useless songs of praise to players he knows are loved too much brother fans to keep food on his table. YOU WILL BE SACKED TOMORROW
puzampyz
0
Tomorrow pls
Biuilnrty
0
Vini and Mbappe can never and will never be a good teammate. Isn't it obvious they don't compliment each other and they play for themselves individually and not for the team.. Vini was the star of the team before Mbappe came in and stole the spotlight, thus, Vini isn't happy about it and in addition Vini plays from the left side of the pitch and Mbappe has made it clearly that's his preferred position. It was almost the same with Ronaldo & Kaka and also Ronaldo & Benzema but the Benzema was willing to play for the team and give Ronaldo the room to shine and took the spotlight. But in the case of Vini and Mbappe is different as Vini isn't willing to step aside and we have to accept the bitter truth; one of them need to leave and we all know Madrid isn't letting Mbappe leave for financial reasons as Mbappe alone generate more revenue for the club than any other player in the club. We need to always remember it is not just about playing football and winning trophies; there's also a business part of it. Thanks 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
was that a slump
Petbcdioy
0
Vinicius should be sold please. Even if we regret it or not. He's the problem at Madrid
How can Vini be the problem when the entire team excluding Coutois not doing well.
hedbdiosty
2
No serious Team or Coach will ever make Vini untouchable
ShadowSkullCollector
1
From this point Real Madrid will only goes down 😑
Newbmprsz
0
Vini and Mbappe can never and will never be a good teammate. Isn't it obvious they don't compliment each other and they play for themselves individually and not for the team.. Vini was the star of the team before Mbappe came in and stole the spotlight, thus, Vini isn't happy about it and in addition Vini plays from the left side of the pitch and Mbappe has made it clearly that's his preferred position. It was almost the same with Ronaldo & Kaka and also Ronaldo & Benzema but the Benzema was willing to play for the team and give Ronaldo the room to shine and took the spotlight. But in the case of Vini and Mbappe is different as Vini isn't willing to step aside and we have to accept the bitter truth; one of them need to leave and we all know Madrid isn't letting Mbappe leave for financial reasons as Mbappe alone generate more revenue for the club than any other player in the club. We need to always remember it is not just about playing football and winning trophies; there's also a business part of it. Thanks 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Nonsense nothing is true about what you said it's a perception they like each other it's just people like you want to ruin things go deal with your own businesses
Wuoilrstyz
1
Vini and Mbappe can never and will never be a good teammate. Isn't it obvious they don't compliment each other and they play for themselves individually and not for the team.. Vini was the star of the team before Mbappe came in and stole the spotlight, thus, Vini isn't happy about it and in addition Vini plays from the left side of the pitch and Mbappe has made it clearly that's his preferred position. It was almost the same with Ronaldo & Kaka and also Ronaldo & Benzema but the Benzema was willing to play for the team and give Ronaldo the room to shine and took the spotlight. But in the case of Vini and Mbappe is different as Vini isn't willing to step aside and we have to accept the bitter truth; one of them need to leave and we all know Madrid isn't letting Mbappe leave for financial reasons as Mbappe alone generate more revenue for the club than any other player in the club. We need to always remember it is not just about playing football and winning trophies; there's also a business part of it. Thanks 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Tuebikmtuy
1
All Madrid midfielders are boxing midfielders
in fact keep washing them everyday by God's grace they will be whiter than snow 🤣🤣🤣
Yeadinpryz
1
No real Madrid scored first against Elche and Girona and dropped points by drawing both matches... The main issue of concern with La liga refs is that whenever real Madrid aren't winning the refs provides little push either through penalty awards or refusing to call for fouls against real Madrid
Rezbeiklnp
0
you fans says this and when we say pedri is better midfield you don't agree cause Bellingham scores goals so he is good what about creating and controlling the midfield 🤔🤔
Bapbcdimnr
0
yes brother I had washed them many times no creativity midfielders
Continue washing them
Lipdekrz
0
All Madrid midfielders are boxing midfielders
yes brother I had washed them many times no creativity midfielders
Zazaclmps
0
All Madrid midfielders are boxing midfielders
correct sir
reeainps
1
talkative coach
/MADRIDISTA
2
Real Madrid needs to sign two creative midfielders and one cb
lupakpty
0
I agree. He makes great effort but very lame attempts at goal...too many narrow misses
Lipdekrz
1
All Madrid midfielders are boxing midfielders
Lipdekrz
1
Madrid problem is not about coach is about the players they don't chase whenever they lose the ball this is the problem (1).they team need midfielder that can share the ball,midfielder that create passes but they have so so boxing midfielders
Metbdeimst
1
Vinicius should be sold please. Even if we regret it or not. He's the problem at Madrid