New Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa has accepted responsibility for the club’s humiliating Spanish Cup exit at the hands of Albacete. Los Blancos took on the second-tier side in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday evening.

It represented Arbeloa’s first game in charge after he was confirmed as Xabi Alonso’s replacement following his sacking. The former endured a nightmare start though as Javi Villar gave Albacete the lead.

Summer signing Franco Mastantuono levelled matters on the stroke of half-time. Late strikes from Jefte Betancor and Gonzalo Garcia looked to be taking the game into extra-time, only for Betancor to steal victory for Albacete in the 95th minute.

Speaking after the defeat, Arbeloa claimed it was his fault. He said: "At this club a draw is bad, a tragedy, so imagine a defeat like this. It's painful, especially against a lower division team. ... Obviously we have to improve.

"I'm responsible, I take the decisions: the team, how we want to play, the substitutions. We'll try to recover our morale and physically, and improve for the game on Saturday [against Levante in LaLiga].

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“If people want to describe this as a failure I'd understand it. For me, failure lies on the way to success. ... I don't fear that word. I've failed a lot in my life, I've suffered defeats in cups, I'm excited about getting to Valdebebas tomorrow and working with the players, to [play] much better on Saturday."

Arbeloa picked a much-changed lineup for his first game at the helm, with stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois not featuring at all. But the Spanish coach defended his selection and claimed he would pick the same squad if given the opportunity again.

He added: "I was convinced the squad was the right one, and I still think that. We have an extraordinary squad, with great players. It isn't easy for them to do everything I've asked of them after just one day [in the job].

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“We have a lot of players to get back to their best physical level. I don't regret anything. I'd pick the same team again."

Real Madrid will be aiming to get back to winning ways this weekend as they take on Levante at the Bernabeu. They currently sit four points behind fierce rivals Barcelona in the race for the league title.

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