Arbeloa talks Mbappe, Courtois, Manuel Angel, Pintus ahead of Real Madrid vs Elche

Madrid, Spain – With FC Barcelona’s four-point cushion at the top of La Liga looming large, Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa insists his side will treat Saturday night’s meeting with Elche as a must-win, refusing to entertain talk of squad rotation ahead of next week’s Champions League quarter-final return leg against Manchester City.

“We’ll field our best possible eleven to win,” Arbeloa told reporters at the Santiago Bernabéu. “I’m not thinking about anything else. The players have to leave every match exhausted; it’s their job.”

Mbappe update The headline absence from that lineup will be Kylian Mbappé. The French forward, who has been nursing a minor muscle complaint, has been ruled out of the Elche fixture but could return in time for the trip to Manchester.

“He’s getting better every day,” Arbeloa confirmed. “We made a plan; it depends on his progress, but I see him doing very well. He won’t be available tomorrow, but I’m confident he’ll travel to Manchester. We’ll decide on Sunday and then discuss it with France.”

Courtois earns historic praise While Mbappé’s fitness dominates the back pages, Thibaut Courtois continues to earn superlatives between the posts. Arbeloa, a former teammate of Iker Casillas and Pepe Reina, did not hesitate when asked where the Belgian stands in the club’s pantheon of goalkeepers.

“What Courtois does, I haven’t seen from anyone else,” he said. “There’s no debate—he’s surely the best goalkeeper in Real Madrid’s history, in my opinion.”

Manuel Angel on the brink With fixtures coming thick and fast, Arbeloa hinted that 18-year-old winger Manuel Angel could make his first senior start. At 1.69 m, the academy graduate has been labelled undersized by some observers, a critique the coach brushed aside.

“His size is the size of his heart,” Arbeloa said. “I’ve been a European and World champion with players who weren’t even 1.70 m and they were sensational. He’s ambidextrous, can play either wing, and I really believe in him.”

Pintus factor Behind the scenes, fitness coach Antonio Pintus has been credited with keeping Madrid’s squad robust during the season’s decisive stretch. Arbeloa offered simple praise: “He’s an exceptional professional; it’s a privilege to have him by my side.”

Mind-set switch Turning to the psychological challenge of moving from mid-week Champions League euphoria—Madrid beat City 3-0 on Wednesday—to a domestic fixture against relegation-threatened Elche, Arbeloa stressed vigilance.

“You have to ensure your own standards match the other team’s motivation,” he said. “We certainly won’t see the same Elche as in previous matches; they’re coming to the Bernabéu. That’s why it’s so difficult to be a Real Madrid player.”

A victory for Madrid would reduce Barça’s lead to a single point, at least until the leaders host Sevilla on Sunday. For Arbeloa, there is no margin for error.

“We have to give our all,” he concluded. “There are no doubts or excuses for not playing a great match.”

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