ALBACETE: New coach Alvaro Arbeloa said he was not afraid of failure as he took the blame for Real Madrid’s stunning 3-2 defeat to second-division Albacete in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on Wednesday.

Substitute Jefte Betancor scored twice as Arbeloa endured a nightmare start to his managerial career at Real after taking charge of the Spanish giants following Xabi Alonso’s departure on Monday.

The shock result capped a dismal week for the club, who also lost 3-2 to Barcelona in Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup final.

The 42-year-old Arbeloa inherits a side four points adrift of their arch-rivals Barcelona in La Liga and now out of the Copa del Rey.

Speaking after the humbling result at a misty Carlos Belmonte stadium, the former Real defender took full responsibility for the defeat but insisted that brighter days lay ahead.

“At this club, a draw is always bad, a tragedy. It’s painful, and I’m sure all our fans are hurting,” Arbeloa told reporters. “I am responsible and to blame. As for the line-up and the substitutions, I can only thank the players. Now we have to recover for Saturday.”

Arbeloa’s decision to rest several first-team stars came under scrutiny as Real struggled against an organised and determined Albacete side. Despite the result, Arbeloa doubled down on his choices.

“I don’t regret it. I was convinced that the squad I brought was the right one,” he asserted. “The players we had formed a great team. I would make the same decision a thousand times over. It’s difficult for players to adapt to everything I’ve asked of them in just one day. We also have many players who need to recover physically.”

Real’s second consecutive loss in less than a week was a blow for Arbeloa, but the manager remained steadfast in his belief that failure is a stepping stone to success.

“I’m not afraid of failure,” he said. “I understand anyone who wants to describe this defeat as a failure. Failure is part of the road to success. It will make me better, and it will make us all better. I’ve endured defeats harder than this one. We’ll prepare for the next match with maximum dedication.”

He added that Real had a lot of room for improvement physically. “With a new manager, players will need time to adjust to different ideas,” he said. “What happens on the pitch is ultimately my responsibility. We need clearer ideas in how we approach matches, particularly against teams that defend deep.”

Without French superstar Kylian Mbappe and various other key players, Arbeloa’s side struggled against a side currently 17th in Spain’s second division.

The hosts took the lead in the 42nd minute after a spell of pressure. A dangerous corner from Jose Lazo found Javier Villar at the near post, with the defender rising highest to head past Real’s stand-in goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, sending the crowd into raptures.

Arbeloa’s side levelled before the break through, also capitalising on a corner, with Franco Mastantuono turning home from close range.

Albacete regained the lead in the 82nd minute after Real’s defence failed to clear their lines from a corner, allowing an unmarked Betancor to find the net with a venomous strike at the far post.

Gonzalo Garcia’s pulled Real level in stoppage time with a well-placed header but there was a sting in the tale as Betancor produced a sensational lofted finish past Lunin to snatch a famous late victory for Albacete, their first ever against Real.

“We’ve hit rock bottom; we’ve been knocked out by a second division team,” Real captain Dani Carvajal told reporters. “You have to face up to it when you lose, and that’s what we have to do now. We, the players, are the ones ultimately responsible. There’s little else I can say.

“We ask for forgiveness for the fans. We were not up to the level of this club, me first of all, and we will give our lives in the next games and months [to turn it around].”

Elsewhere Real Betis beat Elche 2-1 and Alaves defeated Rayo Vallecano 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2026