Real Madrid Manager Alvaro Arbeloa on Adapting Play for Mbappé and Bellingham

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa admitted his team must adjust their playing style following the re-integration of Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé, yet he maintained that their presence strengthens the squad. Despite a recent upturn in form, Los Blancos experienced an unexpected loss to RCD Mallorca on Saturday, occurring in only Bellingham's second and Mbappé's third game back from injury.

Even with this setback affecting their La Liga championship aspirations, Arbeloa expressed confidence that his team would rise to the occasion for Tuesday night's Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich at home.

"Real Madrid consistently excels when facing elite opponents. Bayern Munich is enjoying an outstanding season, and we are fully aware of the challenge they will present on the field. Our encounters with Bayern are always memorable. The Santiago Bernabéu is poised for another spectacular Champions League evening."

Keys to the Bayern Munich Quarter-Final

Regarding his expectations for the team's performance, Arbeloa highlighted the importance of collective effort, an aspect Real Madrid has been criticized for neglecting in the past two seasons.

"Achieving victory in football requires excelling in numerous aspects across all phases of play. To truly be a great team, strong cohesion and a collective mindset are essential. This is perhaps what I'm most focused on instilling in the players. While we possess some of the finest individual talents, we must also operate as the world's best collective unit. Our individual abilities must be channeled to benefit the team as a whole."

Bayern Munich enters the tie as a strong contender for the European Cup. Arbeloa spoke very highly of their manager, Vincent Kompany.

"They are an exceptionally well-managed team; their distinct identity and playing philosophy are immediately apparent. Defensively, they are highly aggressive, consistently forcing opponents into difficult positions, and every player demonstrates remarkable commitment to tracking back. In possession, they generate opportunities effectively down the flanks with extremely skillful players. I believe they are a remarkably complete squad, possessing numerous attacking options and an unwavering defensive commitment. Kompany merits all the accolades he receives, as he is performing an outstanding role at Bayern Munich."

'It’s clear we play differently with Mbappé and Bellingham'

Interestingly, a recurring discussion in the Spanish capital has been the notion that Real Madrid might function more effectively as a collective unit without Mbappé in the starting lineup.

"Evidently, Mbappé possesses distinct attributes compared to Brahim, which naturally necessitates a different tactical approach. However, I am thrilled to have such exceptional talents at my disposal. Mbappé joined this club precisely for fixtures of this magnitude. It's a significant advantage to have a full squad available, rather than grappling with numerous injuries."

"Ultimately, my own perspective is what counts, and it's an immense privilege to feature a player of Mbappé's caliber in our squad. I genuinely feel for the defenders tasked with facing Real Madrid now."

Jude Bellingham has also faced his share of criticism this season, as he endeavors to regain his top form and establish a defined role within the team.

"What changes is that we become a superior team; I am absolutely convinced of it. Bellingham brings different attributes than some of his peers, and when he's on the field, we must adapt our play accordingly. That's the essence of football – fostering effective relationships between players. Nevertheless, integrating Bellingham into the squad is a desirable challenge to have."

Last weekend, Arbeloa suffered his fifth defeat in 19 matches at the helm of Real Madrid, bringing his total one short of Xabi Alonso's record. However, his team's strongest displays under his leadership have been in European competitions, where they successfully eliminated Benfica and Manchester City in the knockout rounds.