Head coach of Real Madrid, Álvaro Arbeloa, has acknowledged that the club’s La Liga title ambitions have taken a major hit following their 2-1 defeat to RCD Mallorca.
The result has seen Real Madrid drop further behind league leaders FC Barcelona, with Barcelona currently topping the table on 76 points while Madrid sit second on 69 points, with eight matches remaining in the campaign.
Speaking after the match, Arbeloa admitted that the timing of the defeat has made the title race more difficult, noting that the situation was more favorable just hours earlier but has now shifted significantly in Barcelona’s favor.
He stressed that despite the setback, Real Madrid still have a mathematical chance to challenge for the title and must now focus entirely on winning their remaining fixtures, regardless of Barcelona’s results.
The defeat to Mallorca proved costly as Real Madrid failed to capitalize on key moments in the game, allowing the hosts to secure all three points and strengthen their position in the league standings.
Arbeloa also pointed to shortcomings in his team’s performance, highlighting a lack of patience, energy, and creativity, particularly in the second half, which ultimately contributed to the disappointing outcome.
He further took responsibility for the result and urged his players to respond positively in the coming matches, describing the remaining fixtures as decisive in shaping the outcome of the season.
With Barcelona maintaining a strong position at the top and Real Madrid now chasing from behind, the title race has intensified as both sides head into the final stretch of the campaign.
Arbeloa’s message to his squad remains clear: stay focused, maintain belief, and treat every remaining match as a must-win in order to keep their championship hopes alive.
Source: Elvisanokye.com