""At this club a draw is bad, a tragedy, so imagine a defeat like this," Arbeloa said. "It's painful, especially against a lower division team. Obviously we have to improve. "I'm responsible, I take the decisions: the team, how we want to play, the substitutions. We'll try to recover our morale and improve for the game on Saturday [against Levante in La Liga]. "I was convinced the squad was the right one, and I still think that. We have an extraordinary squad, with great players. It isn't easy for them to do everything I've asked of them after just one day [in the job]. We have a lot of players to get back to their best physical level. "I don't regret anything. I'd pick the same team again.""
""I think we've hit rock bottom today," he said. "We've been knocked out by a second-division team. Congratulations to them. From tomorrow we'll all do some self-criticism, individually and collectively. There's still time to turn the season around.""
Alvaro Arbeloa rested several key players, including Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois, for his first match as Real Madrid coach. Segunda División side Albacete defeated Real Madrid 3-2 to eliminate them from the Copa del Rey. Arbeloa accepted responsibility for team selection and substitutions, defended his choices, and said he would pick the same lineup again. Captain Dani Carvajal called the defeat 'rock bottom' and urged individual and collective self-criticism while saying there is still time to turn the season around. Reports suggest the Real Madrid board are already planning to change direction despite Arbeloa's insistence.
Read at 101GREATGOALS.COM
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