‘We have hit rock bottom’ — Real Madrid star hits panic button despite Arbeloa arrival

Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal has admitted Los Blancos have “hit rock bottom” after a shock Copa del Rey elimination at the hands of Albacete, despite the recent appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa.

The defeat deepened the sense of crisis at the Santiago Bernabéu following a turbulent week on and off the pitch.

Real Madrid’s nightmare run continued on Wednesday night as they crashed out of the Copa del Rey to Segunda side Albacete, conceding a last-gasp winner from Jefte Betancour despite twice fighting back through set-piece goals.

The loss came just days after defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final and the subsequent dismissal of Xabi Alonso.

Speaking after the match, Carvajal did not shy away from responsibility, delivering a brutally honest assessment of the team’s current state. “We’ve hit rock bottom spectacularly. We have to face the music even when we lose, and that’s what we have to do now,” the right-back told Diario AS.

He added: “We, the players, are ultimately responsible. There’s little more I can say.” The captain also admitted the embarrassment of being eliminated by lower-league opposition. “We’ve hit rock bottom; we were knocked out by a Segunda team. Congratulations to them,” he said.

Despite the setback, Carvajal stressed the need for reflection and unity moving forward. “Starting tomorrow, it’s time for self-criticism. We have two fantastic competitions and we’re going to fight for everything.”

While Carvajal highlighted the players’ failure to meet expectations, newly appointed coach Álvaro Arbeloa was quick to shoulder responsibility for the cup exit.

The former Real Madrid defender, who took charge following Alonso’s sacking, acknowledged the team’s struggles and pointed to physical shortcomings as a contributing factor.

Carvajal echoed the need for improvement, apologising to supporters and vowing a response. “The team isn’t at its best, obviously; we have to work hard and give much more. We apologise to the fans. We aren’t, myself included, living up to the expectations of this club,” he said.

With their Copa del Rey hopes over, Real Madrid must now regroup quickly and channel their efforts into La Liga and the Champions League. Whether Arbeloa can steady the ship after such a damaging start remains to be seen, but Carvajal’s words only go to show the scale of the task ahead.