Real Madrid have closed within a single point of Barcelona in La Liga since Alvaro Arbeloa took charge, with the former Castilla boss winning all four of his league games in charge. However, the reviews for Arbeloa have not been unanimously positive.
Despite the results in the league, Los Blancos' performances have been inconsistent. In between La Liga matches, Real have suffered defeats to Albacete in the Copa del Rey and Benfica in the Champions League, results that have raised questions about Arbeloa's ability to bring about the necessary improvement at the Santiago Bernabeu.
One of the reasons that led to the departure of his predecessor, Xabi Alonso, was the tense relationship with some of Real Madrid's stars, although the Basque coach also had supporters within the dressing room.
According to Cadena Cope, Kylian Mbappe was happier with Alonso than he currently is with Arbeloa.
It was noted that Mbappe, who spoke to the media a week after Alonso's dismissal, strongly defended his job. He stated that Alonso "had not failed" at Real Madrid and that in the future he would be "a fantastic coach."
However, despite Mbappé's stance, it seems he does not necessarily represent the majority of the squad. Reports in recent weeks suggest that Arbeloa's arrival has eased tensions at the training ground and improved the atmosphere within the team.
In particular, Arbeloa has been quick to defend his stars, including Vinicius Junior.
However, Arbeloa has yet to fully convince the squad that he will be a long-term solution, while some of his tactical instructions have yet to inspire the players.Telegrafi/
