Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa has dismissed the notion that avoiding a guard of honor for Barcelona in El Clásico will be the main motivation for Los Blancos when they face Espanyol on Sunday in La Liga.
If Real Madrid fail to beat Espanyol and Barcelona defeat Osasuna, the Catalan club will officially clinch the La Liga title for the second consecutive season, just a week before El Clásico at the Camp Nou.
It is customary for teams that secure the league title early to receive a guard of honor from their subsequent opponents. Real Madrid famously refused to do so in 2018, reportedly due to Cristiano Ronaldo’s strong opposition.
When asked if the Espanyol match was more important because of the potential absence of a guard of honor, Arbeloa replied, “That’s not my biggest motivation. My only motivation tomorrow is to win the three points because that’s what we need right now.”
Speaking about the upcoming match against Espanyol, he continued, “Espanyol’s stadium is always a difficult place to play because of their large fan base, strong team, and great coach. Although their results don’t always reflect the quality of their work, I admire what they offer and have a lot of respect for them.”
Arbeloa declined to comment on journalists’ questions regarding his disagreement with Dani Ceballos, simply stating, “I’ve been in this dressing room for over 20 years, and the first thing I learned is that things stay within it. This is a principle I’ve maintained throughout all these years and will continue to uphold.”
He concluded by answering another question about José Mourinho potentially taking over as Real Madrid coach next season, saying, “My only answer is that the future lies in tomorrow and in securing the three points. Every match is life for me, and that’s what matters most.”
