New Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa has acknowledged the frustration and disappointment felt by supporters after a difficult week for the club, urging fans to rally behind the team ahead of Saturday’s LaLiga home clash with relegation-threatened Levante.

Madrid suffered consecutive blows, beginning with a 3–2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday. That setback was followed by a shock Copa del Rey exit on Wednesday, when Los Blancos lost 3–2 to second-tier Albacete in Arbeloa’s first match in charge after Xabi Alonso’s departure.

Despite the recent turmoil, Real Madrid remain second in LaLiga with 45 points from 19 matches, four points adrift of leaders Barcelona.

“I have a lot of respect for the opinion of the Bernabéu,” Arbeloa told reporters on Friday. “I understand that the fans are hurt and disappointed, but I ask them to support their players.

“Great achievements have been made when the Bernabéu has stood by its team. I’m asking them to stay with us, support us, and hopefully this season will end the way we want.”

A two-time Champions League winner during his playing career at Real Madrid, Arbeloa said he would not single out blame for the loss to Albacete.

“I understand people are looking for someone to blame, but my job is to find solutions,” he said. “When things aren’t going well, it’s because I need to help my players better.”

The 42-year-old also shared a personal story with his squad to underline the mentality he expects moving forward.

“I told them how it took me many years to win a European Cup. I had already been a world champion, a European champion, I had won a lot,” Arbeloa explained. “When I finally won that European Cup, I got on the bus and a teammate who had only been there a year said to me, ‘Let’s go for another one, shall we?’”

“That teammate was your captain, Dani Carvajal. He was already thinking about the next one. The past doesn’t matter.”

Arbeloa also delivered positive team news, confirming that Kylian Mbappé, LaLiga’s top scorer with 18 goals this season, has recovered from a left knee sprain and will be available. However, winger Rodrygo will miss the match.