Real Madrid vs Man City: Can they defeat Man City, Arbeloa?

Alvaro Arbeloa has helped Vinicius regain his proper position at Real Madrid but has not yet restored the club to its champion status.

Exactly two months after replacing Xabi Alonso at Bernabeu, the 44-year-old coach faces one of the most difficult matches of the season, which is the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Man City, with a sense of a high-risk situation.

More words than solutions

The Galacticos are still closely trailing Barcelona in the La Liga title race, but a defeat against the English team would almost determine his fate as manager, which has already become a doubt among the club's leadership and within the dressing room.

There are differing views and assessments within the Valdebebas training complex, but worryingly, some players believe the necessary solutions are not coming from the coaching staff. The major obstacle stems from Arbeloa's tactical and personnel decisions.

All that the 44-year-old coach has said about the crisis in Madrid is injuries. This is a different perception compared to what the team had with Xabi Alonso, who from the outset openly tried to "mold" stars like Vinicius, Bellingham, and Valverde with a clear plan.

The former Leverkusen coach sought to revolutionize football for the team and failed. He could not impose his personality strongly and lacked club support at critical moments, especially after Vinicius's fierce reaction to being substituted in the Classic match.

However, Alonso instilled confidence in some players like Mbappe and Courtois that they were the team's method. Many players do not see that in Arbeloa currently. Bringing Vinicius back is essential, as he is a game-changing player the team needs.

Beyond football factors, he is also a crucial asset that President Florentino Perez does not want to lose for free without recovering any value. But the number 7 cannot yet be the club's solution, despite his brilliance as an individual.

Because the need to become the team's biggest star has completely overshadowed collective play, and reliance on the Brazilian forward has become a weakness Real can be exploited. They could be defeated if Man City tightly locks down Vinicius on the left flank, as Getafe did in La Liga, and Pep Guardiola's team might "practice" it again at Bernabeu tonight.

The resilience of a great team

Devastated by an injury storm and structural deficiencies that Ancelotti endured last season and Alonso also faced, especially in midfield, Arbeloa has not introduced notable tactical alternatives.

There is no evolution, and at times, regression is visible. The team was eliminated by Albacete from the King's Cup, burned in their first away match against Benfica in the qualifying round. And consecutive defeats against Osasuna and Getafe caused pain.

The 44-year-old coach has realized there are varying levels of commitment in the dressing room, largely related to his betting on academy players like Thiago Pitarch. He needs an energy not seen in many established players, as the dressing room's focus is fragmented, while doubts about Arbeloa's capabilities grow larger.

"I am happy with those who wanted to come here," Arbeloa said after the win against Celta Vigo last weekend. Indirectly, implying others did not. Another headache, while betting on Vinicius's value, though he does not show leadership, the 44-year-old coach lacks a true leader on the field.

Mbappe's rapid rise led to a breakdown in relations with Vinicius, and the French forward is far from taking on that role. He also cannot play in this match due to just returning from injury, along with Bellingham's absence, further loosening Real's playing structure.

If anything differs, it is that Real is Real, a team with Champions League DNA. They can win big matches despite severe crises, but the issue is it hardly becomes a season turning point for the Bernabeu side.