Real Madrid Coach Defends Players After Scuffle Ahead of El Clasico

• RMA coach Arbeloa has defended his players amidst the fight between Valverde and Tchouameni

• The fight comes on the cusp of the El Clasico against their fiercest rivals, Barcelona

• RMA say both players have apologised to one another the next day when they met with club officials

Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa has defended players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni, stating that their apologies for the scuffle were sufficient to address the incident that led the club to fine both players a hefty 500,000 euros ($590,000).

“My players recognized their mistake, expressed their remorse, and asked for forgiveness,” Arbeloa told reporters in Madrid on Saturday during his first public appearance following the altercation.

“That is enough for me,” he continued. “What I am not going to do is burn them on a pyre in a town square, because they don’t deserve that. It is time to turn the page.”

The tussle between the two midfielders during a training session on Thursday resulted in Valverde sustaining a head injury, with the player reporting that he hit his head on a table and describing the event as “a meaningless fight.”

Madrid indicated that both players apologized to each other the following day during a meeting with club officials who were investigating the incident. They also extended their apologies to teammates, coaching staff, and fans.

The 15-time European champions deemed the incident a significant breach of team discipline, implementing fines that sting even the wallets of elite players.

Arbeloa expressed satisfaction with the club’s handling of the situation while noting that he has witnessed worse behavior in his professional career as a defender, which included stints at Madrid, Liverpool, West Ham, and the Spanish national team.

“I had a teammate that hit another with a golf club,” he recalled but refrained from providing further details. “Situations like this have always happened, but I am not justifying them.”

Arbeloa’s sharpest criticism was directed not at Valverde and Tchouaméni but at the individual who leaked information about the fight to the media, with the first report coming from Spanish sports daily Marca.

“That what happens in the changing room ends up being filtered to the media, for me, is a betrayal of Real Madrid,” he stated. “These things must stay in the changing room.”

And now a trip to Camp Nou with everything to lose

Madrid faces the prospect of a second consecutive season without a major trophy, despite having French star Kylian Mbappé in their ranks.

The 43-year-old Arbeloa has been in charge since January when he was promoted from Madrid’s reserve team to take over after the dismissal of Xabi Alonso. It would be a major surprise if he remains in his position after the season, given the inconsistent performances of his high-profile squad.

Arbeloa now confronts the challenging task of motivating his players for their upcoming clash against fierce rival Barcelona on Sunday. A victory for Madrid is crucial to prevent Barcelona from securing a second consecutive La Liga title, although even a win would likely only postpone the Catalan club’s title celebrations as they currently hold an 11-point lead over Madrid with four games remaining.

“There is no doubt I have to take the responsibility for the fact that we have not risen to the challenge this season,” Arbeloa admitted. “It is clear that feelings of frustration and anger can push you into situations that you don’t desire. But now we must focus on Sunday’s game.”

Tchouaméni will be part of Madrid’s squad for the clasico, while Arbeloa mentioned that Valverde is on medical leave as he recovers from his head injury.