It was supposed to be a new dawn for Real Madrid. Instead, they hit ‘rock bottom’
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- New Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa suffered a humiliating 3-2 defeat to second division Albacete in the Copa del Rey last 16, marking a disastrous start to his tenure.
- Arbeloa, appointed just days earlier to replace Xabi Alonso, faced his first top-level managerial match, with a squad missing key regular starters but still containing notable players like Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde.
- Madrid struggled with fitness, confidence, and defensive errors, allowing Albacete to score a late winner despite a stoppage-time equalizer from Madrid, resulting in one of the club's most embarrassing Copa del Rey exits.
- Arbeloa took full responsibility for the loss, emphasizing the need for
