Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa appeared at a press conference following the 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano in the 22nd round of the Spanish League, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

The coach said: "It was a victory full of energy and spirit. We needed the crowd, and without them, this victory wouldn't have been possible. We deserved to score early, and I am satisfied with the players' efforts. The match wasn't easy, but we managed to achieve the win."

He added: "We still don't know anything about Jude Bellingham's condition. As for Vinicius... it was a match where we once again aimed to give him opportunities to break through from the flanks, which is something we need to work on. He scored a fantastic goal, and in the second half, he put in a great effort."

He continued: "The players put in an amazing effort. As I always say, it's time to work and move forward towards our goals. The coming weeks are very important. We have seen many situations and are working on maintaining our performance. But the players' effort was significant, and in my view, this was a victory of spirit."

He emphasized: "To win, you must do many things correctly; relying on just one thing is not enough. We need to improve performance both with and without the ball, and the ideas must be clear. I often repeat that the ideal team is one where everyone thinks the same way in every situation. To achieve this, you need work and long hours of training."

He stated: "Gonzalo on the wing? Gonzalo Garcia replaced Franco, and we discussed in the locker room that in such situations, it's better for him to be in the center, while Ibrahim, who excels individually, should be on the flanks. This is something we will continue to work on to determine the best role for each player. If we place Gonzalo, it will be to have him close to the penalty area."

Regarding the boos from the fans: "I have great respect for the Santiago Bernabeu crowd, and I will always ask for their support. Of course, I respect all opinions, but I saw a crowd that carried us to victory, supported us when we needed it, and without them, we might not have scored that goal. I always repeat: players are better with their fans, and today that was confirmed once again."

He continued: "We recently lost in Lisbon, but we had played three good matches before that. Winning the third match, against Monaco and Levante, who apparently are not very strong opponents, surely everyone wants to improve, but you can't develop without ups and downs. These players have shown a very strong mentality, because they have it, otherwise, they wouldn't be here."

Regarding Asensio's substitution: "He is putting in a lot of effort to play. All I can do is thank him. His desire not to withdraw and to stay with the team reflects his sense of belonging to Real Madrid. Today, he couldn't continue."

Regarding his assessment of Real Madrid's matches under his leadership: "I'm not Gandalf the White either (a legendary wizard). What I wanted from my players is what I see: commitment and attitude. But we must understand that here, quality alone is not enough; consistency is essential. We will work to achieve it, because this is Real Madrid, and to beat Rayo Vallecano, we have to do more than the other league teams, just as we do when going to Villarreal or Valencia."

Regarding whether Bellingham was injured before the match: "Jude was in perfect condition to play. After a great effort... Yes, his absence is very significant, but I have a fantastic squad. Let's not forget that there are 17 players who were European champions a year and a half ago. With them, we will overcome any difficult situations we face."

He continued: "What do you think about Siss's red card, the last kick, and the additional nine minutes? The red card seemed correct to me, but I didn't see the kick myself, though I was told it was very clear. As for the added time... maybe it should have been more. Every time the ball is taken from the goal, a minute is counted, and perhaps a minute or more could have been added, but it's fine."

He said, "Are you worried about the team's playing style? No."

He concluded: "Do you realize that what matters at Real Madrid is victories? You are lucky to have a coach who doesn't need to explain what Real Madrid is."