I talk to Mbappé every day; so far, we have only good news

Álvaro Arbeloa used his press conference on Thursday to draw a clear line under Real Madrid’s recent slip in the Spanish league and to frame the trip to Celta Vigo as a decisive moment to steady the season.

Two consecutive defeats have pushed Madrid to a four point gap to leaders Barcelona, but the coach insisted that, inside Valdebebas, the mood is far from resignation. Instead, he portrayed the visit to Balaidos as an opportunity to reset, compete with urgency, and show the standards that he believes define the club when pressure is highest.

Arbeloa admitted that back to back losses always carry extra weight at Real Madrid, not only because of the points dropped but because of the expectation that the team must respond immediately. He described defeat as difficult to manage in a dressing room built around winning, yet he emphasised that the group’s focus has narrowed to one thing: the next game. For him, the key is not to be trapped by analysis of what has already happened, but to concentrate on the performance level Madrid must reach in Vigo, where Celta are traditionally aggressive, intense, and hard to control, especially when the crowd senses vulnerability in a visiting giant.

In his view, the match will be defined less by Madrid’s recent results and more by the team’s ability to play with security, calm and conviction. Arbeloa repeatedly highlighted composure and confidence as the pillars of a response, suggesting that Madrid’s biggest opponent is not a league table or an outside narrative, but the team’s own consistency. He made it clear that he wants his players to approach Balaidos with the mentality that the past is irrelevant, that setbacks do not travel with them unless they allow them to, and that the only reality is the ninety minutes in front of them.

Arbeloa also leaned on a familiar Real Madrid principle: the fight lasts as long as it is mathematically possible. He refused to dramatise the deficit to Barcelona, arguing that the season is still open, with many fixtures still to play and multiple scenarios that can swing momentum back and forth. The coach presented the four point gap not as a verdict, but as a challenge that demands a run of wins and a visible change in tone. He said Madrid will keep pushing because, in his words, he does not understand the club in any other way than continuing to fight, a statement that aimed to reassure supporters who may be uneasy after the latest setbacks.

At the same time, he acknowledged the emotional atmosphere around the team, recognising that two defeats can quickly turn public opinion tense and that the mood externally is rarely patient when Real Madrid stumble. Arbeloa did not deny that the environment might feel less positive, but he stressed that the dressing room is aligned and convinced that the title race is still alive. His message was that the group understands what is at stake and believes there is still a long road ahead, meaning that panic, blame, or fatalism would be counterproductive.

Beyond the broader league narrative, one of the most closely watched points of the press conference was the situation of Kylian Mbappe, who is currently unavailable due to injury. Arbeloa offered a reassuring update and made a point of highlighting his personal contact with the forward, saying he speaks with him every day. That detail was not accidental: it reinforced the idea of a coach actively managing not only tactics but also the emotional and physical recovery of a star player whose availability can shape the decisive part of the season.

Arbeloa explained that the club is monitoring Mbappe’s condition closely and taking the recovery process day by day, indicating caution rather than rushing a return. He described steady improvement as the days pass and underlined that, so far, the news has been consistently positive. The tone suggested optimism without committing to a specific date, with Arbeloa presenting it as a controlled progression rather than a situation that could suddenly deteriorate. In a period where Madrid have dropped points, the mention that Mbappe is getting better and better will be seen as a morale boost, both inside the squad and among fans who view him as a potential difference maker in the run in.

With the league context tightening and the pressure around the club inevitably rising, Arbeloa’s press conference sounded like a call for clarity and unity. He framed Balaidos as a test of character and execution, one that requires Madrid to hit a higher level, impose their personality, and leave behind the recent disappointments through performance rather than words. The message was straightforward: win in Vigo, restore confidence, keep the title race alive, and continue the season with the mindset that Real Madrid do not stop fighting, no matter what the last two results have said.