New Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa has appealed to fans for patience and backing ahead of their LaLiga clash with Levante. His plea comes after a rocky start, including a shocking Copa del Rey exit to second-tier Albacete just one day into his tenure. The defeat followed a Spanish Supercopa loss to Barcelona.

Arbeloa, who replaced Xabi Alonso this week, confirmed star forward Kylian Mbappé will be available for selection. The Frenchman has missed much of 2026 with a knee sprain, including the Albacete match. The new coach clarified that his post-match comments about physical fitness were not a criticism of his predecessor.

Despite the recent setbacks, Madrid remain just four points behind Barcelona at the top of LaLiga. Arbeloa insisted his squad selection was dictated by player availability, omitting key figures like Jude Bellingham due to injury risks. The focus now shifts to stabilizing the team and securing a crucial league victory.