When Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa spoke ahead of his side’s season-defining set of games against SL Benfica in the Champions League, an opponent that have gotten the better of the Spanish giants already this season, one word was on his lips: revenge.
But Arbeloa wasn’t chasing it. Instead, he talked calmly and with a typical assuredness the fans are getting used to seeing from their new manager, who replaced Xabi Alonso after failing to get the best out of his players.
“We always think about winning,” he confirmed. “Our objective isn’t just eliminating Benfica. Our objective is winning the Champions League, it’s not about revenge. It’s about going through in the tie, that’s why we’re here.”
“I know what José’s teams are like... this is a new game”
“[Benfica] haven’t surprised me. I know what José’s teams are like,” he added. “But this is a new game. It has nothing to do with the one three weeks ago.”
The one three weeks ago was one of Real Madrid’s toughest nights in recent years. In a competition they like to call their own, the 15-time champions were well and truly humbled in a collapse for the ages.
Benfica pressed the Spanish side relentlessly, finding spaces in their structure and picking the perfect moment every time to attack and cause chaos. Insult was added to injury when goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin scored with seconds to go to send Madrid tumbling in the table and into the playoffs. Two late red cards mean Madrid’s playoff run would be hampered by suspension; fate would have it that they now face that very same team that sent them over the edge.
“We’re good friends,” Arbeloa said of Benfica coach José Mourinho, his former boss at Madrid that he will face yet again. “We always want the best for each other... All I can say is I always wish José all the best. But my objective is to eliminate Benfica.”
Real Madrid play Benfica at the Estádio da Luz on Tuesday 16 February at 3pm ET.