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 their criticisms during what was described as the "Black Saturday Night" against Levante at Santiago Bernabéu.

The primary responsibility falls on the first team players themselves, the same players (though not all of them) 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.

The players are in the spotlight... and Arbeloa is an assistant factor.

In this revolution, the novelty factor represented by Álvaro Arbeloa cannot be ignored, as he has already made his mark. However, Real Madrid's recovery of its intensity and ferocity came primarily thanks to the players themselves, those who wear the jersey and make the difference. Football has its own rules, but what happened once again confirms the significant influence players can exert on their environment, something the club realized in Valdebebas some time ago, leading to the decision to change the coaching staff.

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

Arbeloa simply applied what has proven successful at the club this century: staying close to the players, defending them both on and off the field, and working hard in preparing for matches.

Return to competing for La Liga and the Champions League.

In early December, a conviction began to emerge within the club about the necessity of change. Decision-makers knew that things were not going 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 it, 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 into the competitive track, and the joy has returned to the players' faces on the pitch. Vinicius Junior, with his contract renewal approaching, stands out as the most prominent symbol of this transformation.

In the management offices, the picture is clear: Real Madrid is capable of competing for La Liga and the Champions League with the current resources. For this reason, the transfer window has been closed, with full confidence that what the team has is sufficient to fight on all fronts.