Real Madrid players did not take responsibility for the defeat to Albacete

Real Madrid travelled away to face Albacete in the Round of 16 of the Spanish Copa del Rey and suffered a sensational 3–2 defeat. After the match, it emerged that none of the players took responsibility.

Details: According to José Luis Sánchez, following the loss not a single player accepted responsibility for the defeat, and no one spoke up in the dressing room. Head coach Álvaro Arbeloa had to console the squad and took the blame himself, while the players are expected to keep working and improving.

The context is that Albacete had last won a match in the Segunda a month earlier, on December 8, 2025. Since then, they had gone four games without a victory. They currently sit 17th and are fighting for survival in Spain’s second division.

Reminder: Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick reacted very calmly to the appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa as head coach.