Spanish journalist Julio Pulido has criticised Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa for showering Jose Mourinho with praise ahead of the Champions League clash with Benfica.
It is an important game for Los Blancos, who are still not guaranteed a spot in the Round of 16. A victory would secure direct qualification, a feat Real Madrid missed out on last season.
After a patchy start, Arbeloa has started to turn things around at Real Madrid. He has paid special attention to star players like Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham, helping them become more confident.
Ahead of the Benfica clash, Arbeloa held a special meeting with Bellingham to discuss tactics and provide feedback.
He also shielded Vinicius Jr. from the boo boys before the Brazilian delivered a Man of the Match performance against Monaco.
Arbeloa Claims Mourinho Laid the Foundations for Real Madrid’s Success
Alvaro Arbeloa has not shied away from praising Jose Mourinho since taking over. He considers himself a disciple of Mourinho’s philosophy, crediting him for sparking his managerial ambitions.
On the eve of Madrid’s Champions League clash with Benfica, Arbeloa once again hailed the Benfica manager, claiming he was beyond imitation.
️ Mesut Özil: “I was at Real Madrid, and we lost 5-0 to Barcelona. In the locker room, we thought Mourinho was going to blow up.
He came, hit us all at the back of the neck & said: ‘Raise your heads, I’m José Mourinho, we will crush them next year’. And it happened.” [Vav TV] pic.twitter.com/pA3cKRQ7Mx
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) January 28, 2026
“I said it on my first day [as coach]: there will never be anyone like Jose,” Arbeloa said.
“Anyone who tries to imitate him will fail, and I’ve understood that from day one. My success will be being myself.”
Real Madrid return to Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, where they won their coveted ‘La Decima.’ The victory came under Carlo Ancelotti in 2014, but Arbeloa believes Mourinho laid the foundations for it.
“What the victory here 12 years ago meant deserves so much credit, just like Carlo [Ancelotti]’s or [Zinedine] Zidane’s later on,” added Arbeloa.
“But Mourinho laid the foundations for those years. That’s something I feel. I believe he’s always been valued within the club.”
Pulido Opposes Arbeloa’s Remarks, Calls Mourinho a Sporting Failure
Renowned journalist Julio Pulido did not share Alvaro Arbeloa’s opinion about Jose Mourinho. He called the Portuguese a sporting failure and held him responsible for damaging Real Madrid’s image.
On Directo Gol, he said (via Diario Sport):
“Honestly, I was a little embarrassed to hear what Arbeloa said.
“Mourinho came to win the Champions League, and he didn’t. He only won one league title and one cup. Therefore, in my opinion, he failed from a sporting standpoint.”
He continued:
“I believe that one of the coaches who has done the most damage to Real Madrid’s image in history has been Mourinho.
“Hearing Arbeloa say he’s one of us, and that much praise, honestly made me a little embarrassed.”
José Mourinho: “Arbeloa is my boy, he’s not just a former player of mine. He’s one of my favorite players on a personal level.
He wasn’t the best player I had at Madrid, but he was one of the best men.” pic.twitter.com/hi1YLdvf7H
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) January 27, 2026
Real Madrid won the LaLiga title ahead of Barcelona in the 2011/12 season, scoring 121 goals and amassing 100 points. They became the first team in LaLiga history to reach triple digits.
El Clasicos became tense, foul-filled affairs, with multiple players seeing yellow cards and red cards in each fixture. The rivalry has become a lot more civil in the last few years.
In the Champions League, Los Blancos reached three consecutive semi-finals but could not go beyond.
During Mourinho’s third season, there were reports of a rift in the dressing room, with some senior players revolting against the manager. At the end of the 2012/13 season, Real Madrid sacked the manager.
Mourinho oversaw 178 games at Real Madrid, taking them to 127 wins, 28 draws, and 23 defeats.
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