Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa appeared at a press conference to discuss tomorrow's match against Benfica, in the final round of the league stage of the UEFA Champions League, at Estádio da Luz.

The coach spoke about tomorrow's match and its importance in being among the top eight: "For us, it is an extremely important match. We need the three points against a very strong team, a team that would be very challenging even if they came with their youth league players. I have warned the players: if we want to win, we must be at the peak of our concentration and play with maximum energy throughout the ninety minutes. The difficulty of tomorrow's match will be at its highest level."

He added: "What do you think of Mourinho's words? And what does his personality mean to you? Yes, of course. I didn't miss his press conference. I didn't miss his conferences when I was a player, and we used to play them all in the locker room, and I didn't miss it today either. It's a great honor to hear everything he said about me. I felt deeply moved and very happy because he was more than just a coach to me, and he was very important on a personal level throughout my career. Today, I also consider him a dear friend. From here, I thank him for his words, and I am very excited to see him tomorrow and give him a strong hug."

He continued: "Do you use things from Mourinho in your speech? Is he a mirror for you? A mirror, of course. I said it from day one: there will be no one like José. Anyone who tries to imitate him will fail, I understood that from the start. My success will be in being myself. And of course, within this 'being Álvaro Arbeloa,' there is a large part of his influence and everything he represented. I learned a lot from him on both the media and tactical levels. Tomorrow we will meet, and I know he will want to win because he is very competitive, and so am I. The most important thing will be those ninety minutes."

Regarding his relationship with Mourinho: "We have maintained communication between us, and I won't lie to you: I know who Mourinho is and how his phone is, which is why you understand why he changes his number often. I tried to bother him as little as possible. But he's one of those friends you might not talk to for a long time, then you call him one day at three in the morning, and I'm sure he will answer. For anything he needs. That's my relationship with José. There's communication, but without being burdensome."

He continued: "What has changed in the team to make it better? I can talk about the fifteen days I've spent here. Since my arrival, I've seen a group of very committed players, ready to listen, work, and implement what we agree on. This is what makes things go well. We still have a lot of room for improvement, and if we want to compete for everything, we need to be a team that does many things and does them well. This requires work and training. But so far, what the players are delivering deserves praise."

On recovering the best version of Bellingham: "Jude... and I say this here... was not a surprise, but from the first day, I saw a player with exceptional quality and capabilities, and up close, he impresses you even more. In addition to that, I saw a leader. Two days ago, after 48 hours from a match, I told him: 'I rarely say this, but stop running.' What he offers in training in terms of performance, commitment, and leadership makes me very proud. On the field, he can do a lot: move in spaces, read what the match needs, and shoot powerfully. He is young, but he has great experience, and he will be a cornerstone for Real Madrid for many years."

Regarding training on the opponent's field in the Champions League: "No one knows if we will stop doing that in the future. It's an option. But this stadium holds very beautiful memories for us, and being here and feeling the importance of the three points was important. I don't see it as better or worse than not doing it."

Regarding the memories of the tenth at Estádio da Luz: "It was the beginning of an era. One of the two most important periods in the history of this club. All are beautiful memories. I hope we return tomorrow with a new victory as well."

He emphasized: "In the last month, there has been talk of a possible return of Mourinho to Madrid; if he called you to be his assistant... would you accept? I don't like to talk about hypotheticals. I am very focused on the present, on tomorrow's match, and on bringing out the best in my players. It will be an unforgettable match for me, but the most important thing is to win."

He added, "I feel a great responsibility towards the situation I am in. This position should be enjoyed, as it is the only way to endure it. Give your best and work as hard as you can. There is no other way to succeed in any field without full enjoyment. This requires a lot of dedication and effort, and that's how results come."

Regarding creating a partnership between Vinicius and Mbappe: "Certainly, relationships on the field are very important and need to be worked on. There are players who gel well and look for each other effectively. They, along with Bellingham, could be the most decisive trio in the world. However, there are many other areas that can be exploited. Players can move and switch positions, and this is what we are working on. Over time, we will deliver more."

Regarding Arda Güler and his ability to be a leader for the team's rhythm: "Currently, I speak about what I see in him: he has great potential, talent, vision, the final pass, and the ability to change the direction of play. He is a very young player with a large margin for development, and he works very hard. He finishes matches exhausted due to his defensive commitment, but he helps us a lot. We want to utilize his talent whether close to the midfield or the attackers. Over time, he will become a very important player on the global stage."

He added: "Apart from Mourinho... which coach had the biggest impact on you? I am very grateful to all the coaches I worked with. From a very young age to Caparrós, who was the first to give me confidence in the first division, which led me to Liverpool, where I met Benítez who changed my position and was very important in my career. Then I returned to Madrid and worked with great coaches like Pellegrini, Rafa, Carlo, Zidane, and in the national team with Luis and Vicente. I was very fortunate to have different coaches, but all of them were successful. Football teaches you that there is no single way to lead or succeed. They were all excellent leaders with great football ideas."

He concluded: "Would you like Mourinho to return to Real Madrid one day? As I said earlier, I don't like to talk about hypotheticals. José... what he achieved here 12 years ago was a great accomplishment, just as Carlo and Zidane did after him. But the foundations of those years were laid by Mourinho. This is my personal opinion, not to convince anyone. And I believe that within the club, they have always appreciated him. That's why he was, is, and will remain one of us."