Arbeloa criticises referee after Tah challenge on Mbappé in Bayern defeat
Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa has claimed Bayern Munich defender Jonathan Tah should have been sent off for a first-half challenge on Kylian Mbappé during Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg. Speaking to Marca after his side's 2-1 defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu, Arbeloa expressed his frustration at the decision, which he believes could have altered the course of the match.
Arbeloa was referring to an incident in the 28th minute where Tah, attempting to win the ball, caught the ankle of Mbappé with his studs. The German international was shown a yellow card by referee Daniele Orsato, a punishment Arbeloa deemed insufficient. "I don't understand why the Bayern player [Tah] wasn't sent off for the foul he committed against Mbappé. These are decisions that are hard to understand," the 43-year-old said. The challenge did not appear malicious but was deemed dangerous by the Madrid camp.
The non-dismissal of Tah contrasted with a significant disciplinary blow for Real Madrid, as midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni received a yellow card that rules him out of the crucial second leg in Munich next Wednesday. "It’s a big loss because of the card the referee showed him, but we have faith in our substitutes," Arbeloa acknowledged, highlighting a key absence for the return fixture.
Arbeloa also provided an update on the fitness of Jude Bellingham, who was introduced as a second-half substitute after a recent spell out injured. The coach emphasised a cautious approach to reintegrating the England star. "It’s not that I don’t want to play Jude, it’s just that he’s been out of action for a long time. I have no doubts about my confidence in him. It makes sense to bring him back gradually," he explained. "We need a player like him who can dribble and get past opponents. He has a strong character, and I can see he’s improving; he’ll be a great asset to us in Munich."
Despite the defeat and Tchouameni's suspension, Arbeloa struck a defiant tone regarding his team's chances of overturning the one-goal deficit at the Allianz Arena. He invoked the club's historic pedigree when asked about the prospect of winning in Bavaria. "If there is one team capable of winning in Munich, it is Real Madrid. We are Real Madrid, and we know how difficult it is to win there, but we will do our very best," he stated. The result leaves the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg, with the contentious refereeing decisions from the first meeting likely to add further spice to the encounter.
