Real Madrid returned to be completely different, just one week was enough for the features of this change to reach every corner of the football world, even to those who exaggerated in criticism during what was described as the 'Black Saturday Night' against Levante at Santiago Bernabeu.

The primary responsibility lies with the first team players themselves, the same players (though not all) who bid farewell to Xabi Alonso with courteous messages on social media. The players finally got what they wanted... and the result is clearly visible on the field.

Players at the forefront... and Arbeloa as a contributing factor

In this revolution, the novelty factor represented by Álvaro Arbeloa cannot be ignored, who has already added his touch. But Real Madrid's recovery of its intensity and ferocity came above all thanks to the players themselves, those who wear the jersey and make the difference. Football has its laws, but what happened once again confirms the great influence that players can impose on their surroundings, something the club realized in Valdebebas some time ago, and based on which it decided to change the coaching staff.

Today, the team runs, presses, and moves as a single unit. Is there a magic formula? Did Arbeloa apply it with the help of his new partner Pintus? Or is it due to a simpler and more comfortable atmosphere in the locker room? The reality is that the players felt liberated from some of the restrictions that Xabi Alonso tried to impose, which may succeed in other clubs but did not suit Real Madrid.

Arbeloa was content to apply what has proven successful in the club during this century: being close to the players, defending them on and off the field, and working hard in match preparation.

Return to Competing for La Liga and Champions League

In early December, a conviction began to leak from within the club about the necessity of change. Decision-makers knew that things were not heading in the right direction, and that understanding between Xabi Alonso and a large part of the locker room would not be achieved. He was given an additional chance, but it did not change the reality: the players did not want, and Alonso could not.

Arbeloa succeeded where his friend Xabi failed, relying on the players' trust from day one. Discipline and commitment have brought Real Madrid back on the competitive track, and the joy was again visible on the players' faces on the pitch. Vinícius Júnior, with his contract renewal approaching, is the most prominent symbol of this transformation.

In the management offices, the picture is clear: Real Madrid is capable of competing for the Spanish League and the Champions League with the current capabilities. For this reason, the door for signings in this market was closed, with full conviction that what the team has is enough to fight on all fronts.