Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach of Real Madrid, spoke to the media in the conference room at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium following the 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad in the 24th round of the Spanish League.

The coach said: "I love this kind of victory because I see the Bernabeu enjoying it, and that's what the players and I want. We want the fans to enjoy our style of play and the goals here at the Bernabeu. The players also enjoy it. I wish all matches could be like this, that's what I hope for."

He added: "I am very pleased with how we prepared for the week, how we set up for the match, and the work done by all the players, as well as the difficulty of the opponent. This team has not been defeated for a long time with a new coach who is doing a great job, and the big teams have not been able to beat them. We are very happy, but another tough battle awaits us on Tuesday."

He continued: "The season is still very long, and the three points from each round are extremely important. It is a very long battle and will witness fluctuations. It is important that we continue to improve in all phases of play and continue to grow as a team and on an individual level. Right now, we are only thinking about Tuesday's match, and we will approach each game week by week with the goal of winning."

Regarding playing with the 4-4-2 formation: "Defensively, it is a structure used by many teams because it closes the depth where the largest number of players are located and gives you greater cohesion. With the type of players we have, it also allows us to launch counterattacks with players up front. We worked a lot this week, and it was beneficial for continuing to develop in all aspects, especially defensively. We still have a lot of room for improvement, but I am happy because the foundation is not just the formation, but the effort, team spirit, mentality, and teamwork, and we are doing that well even though we have much to develop."

He added: "For a month now, I've been seeing an outstanding version of Vinicius Junior, and not just in this match. He's delivering performances at a very high level, making a difference, scoring and creating goals. He's a player who goes beyond statistics because he influences the course of the game, attracts many defenders, and disrupts the opponents' organization. He's one of the best players in the world, and I'm fortunate to coach him. A wonderful young man with a big heart, an excellent teammate, and having him with us is a blessing."

He added: "Facing Benfica? I hope the previous scenario (losing in the league stage) does not repeat itself. We are prepared for the difficulty of the match, the strength of the opponent, and the atmosphere awaiting us on Tuesday against Benfica. The encounter is decided over 180 minutes, and we must deliver a great performance there. It is not enough to seek an acceptable result; we must aim for victory. The match is still on our minds, and we know how challenging it will be."

He added, "Today we played a great defensive game, as we also did in Valencia, and we were cohesive. In the first half, the team appeared more liberated on the opponent's field, with more movement and speed in ball rotation, which is something we are working on developing. We trained well this week. Real Sociedad played the role we usually play today, as we often have a strong midweek game and then reach the weekend without enough preparation time. They went through this scenario, while we had a full week to prepare and rest, and I think that was evident from the start."

Regarding Kylian Mbappé not participating: "Kylian Mbappé is in good condition. It's true that he has experienced some discomfort in his knee for a long time this season, but he puts in a great effort whenever he plays. We decided not to take any risks with him so he can be ready to start Tuesday's match. He will be."

Regarding Carvajal's participation as a starter in the upcoming matches: "Yes, today he took the first step. He played 30 very good minutes, and I liked the fans' tribute to him; he deserves it. We have many matches ahead. Both Trent and Dani have returned from injury, and they cannot play 90 minutes every three days. We will need them throughout the season because each has different characteristics. My goal is to have them at 100% and use them alternately. I'm very happy with Dani's return, and he will continue to increase his minutes."

About Trent Alexander-Arnold and his return: "Through my work with him and my conversations with him, I see him as a very intelligent young man. He understands the game well and quickly grasps what we want from him and how we can benefit from his abilities. He is not a traditional full-back who just sticks to the line; he can play inside in our system, which relies on movement and position exchange. It's great to have a player who can play both deep and wide. We talked before the match about exploiting Gonzalo's presence in the area for crosses and set-pieces. His shooting also helps us launch counter-attacks after regaining possession. He is a great player, and I won't be the one to discover him now. I'm happy to have him, and that he is gaining rhythm and gradually regaining his best form."

He concluded regarding Dean Hausen's performance: "In the penalty kick, the Real Sociedad player acted smartly. This is the nature of the defense position; you might deliver an excellent 90 minutes, and in one moment, everything could collapse. But he recovered mentally in a remarkable way and completed a great match. Let's not forget that he is only 20 years old and this is his first season at Real Madrid. He needs to continue developing, gaining experience, and understanding the demands of playing here, where the matches are open and the spaces are large. It is not easy to be a defender at Real Madrid, but he should be happy with his performance today and his level since he arrived. He needs to keep working and improving."