ALBACETE: New coach Alvaro Arbeloa said he was not afraid of failure as he took responsibility for Real Madrid’s stunning 3-2 defeat to second division side Albacete in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on Wednesday.
Substitute Jefte Betancor scored twice as Arbeloa endured a nightmare start to his managerial career at Real after taking charge of the Spanish giants following Xabi Alonso’s departure on Monday.
The shock result caps a dismal week for the club, who also lost 3-2 to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday.
Arbeloa, 42, inherits a team four points behind rivals Barcelona in La Liga and now out of the Copa del Rey.
Speaking after the humiliating result in the mist at the Carlos Belmonte Stadium, the former Real defender took full responsibility for the defeat but insisted better days lay ahead.
“In this club, a draw is always bad, a tragedy. It’s painful and I’m sure all our fans are suffering,” Arbeloa told reporters. “I am responsible and at fault. As for the squad and the replacements, I can only thank the players. Now we have to recover for Saturday.”
Arbeloa’s decision to rest several first-team stars came under scrutiny as Real struggled against an organized and determined Albacete side. Despite the result, Arbeloa doubled down on his choices.
“I don’t regret it. I was convinced that the team I brought was the right one,” he said. “The players we had were a great team. I would make the same decision a thousand times. It’s difficult for the players to adapt to everything I asked of them in one day. We also have a lot of players who need to recover physically.”
Real’s second consecutive defeat in less than a week was a blow for Arbeloa, but the coach remained steadfast in his belief that failure is a springboard to success.
“I’m not afraid of failure,” he said. “I understand everyone who wants to describe this defeat as a failure. Failure is part of the path to success. It will make me better, and it will make us all better. I have endured tougher defeats than this one. We will prepare for the next match with maximum dedication.”
He added that Real had a lot of room for improvement physically. “With a new manager, players will need time to adapt to different ideas,” he said. “What happens on the pitch is ultimately my responsibility. We need clearer ideas on how we approach matches, especially against teams that defend deep.”
Without French superstar Kylian Mbappe and various other key players, Arbeloa’s side struggled against a team currently 17th in Spain’s second division.
The hosts took the lead in the 42nd minute after a period of pressure. A dangerous corner from Jose Lazo found Javier Villar at the near post, with the defender rising highest to pass Real substitute goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, sending the crowd into ecstasy.
Arbeloa’s side equalized before the breakthrough, also taking advantage of a corner, with Franco Mastantuono heading home from close range.
Albacete regained the lead in the 82nd minute after Real’s defense failed to clear their lines from a corner, allowing an unmarked Betancor to find the net with a venomous strike at the far post.
Gonzalo Garcia brought Real back level in stoppage time with a well-placed header, but there was a sting in the narrative as Betancor produced a sensational finish past Lunin to snatch a famous late victory for Albacete, their first ever against Real.
“We hit rock bottom, we were eliminated by a second division team,” Real captain Dani Carvajal told reporters. “You have to deal with it when you lose, and that’s what we have to do now. We, the players, are the ones ultimately responsible. I can’t say much else.
“We ask the fans for forgiveness. We were not up to the task of this club, me first of all, and we will give our lives in the coming matches and months (to turn the situation around).”
Elsewhere, Real Betis beat Elche 2-1 and Alaves beat Rayo Vallecano 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals.
Published in Dawn, January 16, 2026
