Arbeloa Slams Refereeing: "It's a Penalty Here and on the Moon, But It's the Usual"

Álvaro Arbeloa didn't hold back his criticism of the officiating crew after the Blancos' 1-1 draw against Girona on Friday night. He expressed particular outrage over a penalty not awarded to Kylian Mbappé late in the game.

"For me, that's a penalty here and on the moon, and it's another one. Another week. It is what it is," the coach vented in the Bernabéu press room. The Spaniard questioned the VAR's intervention, suggesting a selective application of the technology. "The truth is, neither I nor anyone else understands it. I imagine VAR gets involved when it suits them, and when it doesn't, it doesn't. You already know my opinion, and these facts continue to support it. We've had many issues with referees. It's the usual," he added, also revealing that the referee gave him "absolutely no" explanation for the incident.

When asked about Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior's lack of efficiency, Arbeloa chose to focus on the collective: "I can't worry about Mbappé and Vinicius's numbers. We need to improve collectively in many areas, and hopefully, on Wednesday, all our bad luck will end, and we'll be more clinical in front of goal."

The coach also addressed Eduardo Camavinga's position, who was booed by some fans. "He feels very comfortable as a '6,' and it was important to see him and for him to understand what I want. He has always been a very mobile player," he defended.

Looking ahead, specifically to the upcoming challenge in Munich for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, the Merengue boss emphasized the need for a top-tier performance. "We have to make a huge effort. We'll have much more time than in the first leg, and we need to correct the things we didn't do well. We know Wednesday is our game, and we are clear that we have to go there and fight to the death," he declared, confident in his team's ability.