The corridors of the Valdebebas training facility were thick with tension on Thursday, but Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has chosen not to swing...
The corridors of the Valdebebas training facility were thick with tension on Thursday, but Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has chosen not to swing his hammer at his two prized warriors. Instead, the former Los Blancos stalwart has directed his full arsenal of anger at the person who carried the story outside the four walls of the clubhouse. After a reported physical altercation between midfield generals Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni following a rigorous training session, the gaffer has come out swinging, but not at his players. In a move that has surprised many in the Football world, Arbeloa praised both men for what he termed their sheer professionalism and their swift reaction to the incident. He insisted that what happens on the pitch in the heat of competition often stays there, and he holds no rancour for the clash. However, he laid down the law regarding the leak that saw the story splashed across the back pages before the players had even left the ground.. �Whoever leaked this has done a great disservice to the team,. � the Spanish tactician fumed.. �In the scheme of things, this is a family matter. The powers that be in this dressing room will get to the bottom of it.. � The incident, which GoalZaza can confirm lasted only moments before teammates intervened, now threatens to overshadow the club. �s preparations for the weekend. �s La Liga fixture. Arbeloa, known for his own fierce temperament during his playing days, understands the fire that burns in the bellies of his stars. He stated clearly that he expects such passion from men who wear the famous white jersey and that the fight, while regrettable, shows that neither player is willing to give an inch in the battle for a starting spot. For the Super Eagles faithful who track this club from viewing centres across Lagos and Abuja, the reaction is one of mixed emotions. Many will nod their heads in agreement with the gaffer. �s stance, recalling the days of fierce competition that built champions. The local fan, sipping his cold bottle of malt at a centre in Surulere, will likely argue that a bit of fire in the training ground is exactly what the doctor ordered for a team gunning for the Champions League. They will back Arbeloa. �s attack on the mole, insisting that in a proper Football family, what happens behind closed doors stays behind closed doors, and the only thing that should be on the front page is the result on the final whistle.
