Alvaro Arbeloa’s tenure as Actual Madrid coach begins with shock Cup loss. Photograph: AFP
MADRID:
Actual Madrid fell to a shock 3-2 defeat within the Copa del Rey final 16 on Wednesday as Alvaro Arbeloa’s debut as coach resulted in humiliation by second-tier opposition.
Appointed on Monday to interchange Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa and his facet have been ousted by Jefte Betancor’s stoppage-time winner on the Carlos Belmonte stadium.
With out French celebrity Kylian Mbappe and numerous different key gamers, Arbeloa’s facet struggled in opposition to a facet presently seventeenth in Spain’s second division.
Albacete took the lead by means of Javi Villar however Franco Mastantuono equalised simply earlier than half-time.
Jefte put the hosts again forward after 82 minutes after which scored the winner after Gonzalo Garcia’s 91st-minute objective appeared to have compelled additional time for the 15-time European champions.
“Right here at this membership a draw is already unhealthy — it is a tragedy. Think about a defeat like this, it is painful,” Arbeloa instructed reporters.
“I am certain all our followers really feel the identical means. Much more so when it occurs in opposition to a workforce from a decrease division, though we already know right here how robust any opponent might be.
“If anybody is accountable and in charge for this end result, it is clearly me, the one who made the selections concerning the line-up, how we needed to play, the substitutions.
“I can solely thank the gamers for the best way they welcomed me, for the trouble they put in as we speak.”
After Madrid misplaced the Spanish Tremendous Cup closing on Sunday in opposition to rivals Barcelona, president Florentino Perez changed Alonso with reserve workforce coach Arbeloa.
The Spaniard chosen two gamers presently enjoying within the reserves he led till Monday — holding midfielder Jorge Cestero and right-back David Jimenez.
In addition to Mbappe he neglected gamers together with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Jude Bellingham, to relaxation forward of the return to La Liga motion on Saturday in opposition to Levante.
“I would do the identical once more, I introduced a workforce able to profitable,” stated Arbeloa.
The primary half was largely performed below heavy gloom, not simply Madrid’s temper however an intense fog which set in a couple of minutes into the sport.
Vinicius Junior smashed excessive and large from lengthy vary as neither facet produced any clear possibilities till shortly earlier than half-time when the hosts took a shock lead.
Villar escaped Mastantuono’s attentions at a nook and nodded Albacete in entrance after 42 minutes.
Arbeloa’s facet levelled earlier than the break by means of, additionally capitalising on a nook, with Mastantuono turning residence from shut vary.
Jefte’s double
Albacete annoyed Madrid after the break after which burst into life in assault to take the lead as soon as extra.
Andriy Lunin pushed away an effort from Riki however shortly afterwards Jefte put Alberto Gonzalez’s facet forward.
Gonzalo Garcia’s clearance fell to the striker within the field and he fired down into the bottom with ball bouncing up and flashing previous Lunin.
Madrid’s younger ahead made amends by pulling his workforce stage in stoppage time with a well-placed header.
Nevertheless there was a sting within the story as Jefte produced a sensational lofted end previous Lunin to grab a well-known late victory for Albacete, their first ever in opposition to Actual Madrid.
“I am not afraid of failure, I can perceive that somebody would need to name this defeat that,” added Arbeloa.
“Failure is on the trail to success, for me they aren’t in reverse instructions.”
Madrid captain Dani Carvajal, who got here on as an alternative and couldn’t cease Jefte’s winner, stated the gamers would work laborious to revert the membership’s hunch.
“We’re not at our greatest second, we’ve to work laborious, all of us have to offer much more, it is a actuality,” Carvajal instructed reporters.
“We apologize for the followers. We have been lower than the extent of this membership, me initially, and we’ll give our lives within the subsequent video games and months (to show it round).”
Elsewhere Actual Betis beat Elche 2-1 and Alaves defeated Rayo Vallecano 2-0 to succeed in the quarter-finals.
Holders Barcelona go to second division leaders Racing Santander on Thursday.
