MADRID, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The relationship between Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa and veteran right back Dani Carvajal was in the spotlight on Thursday ahead of Real Madrid's La Liga home game against Betis.
The 34-year-old Carvajal has missed several months of the season after knee surgery and needs to prove his fitness if he is to have a chance of earning a call-up from Spain coach Luis de la Fuente for what would almost certainly be his last World Cup.
Former Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso appeared to prefer Carvajal at right back when fully fit ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold, but that has changed since Arbeloa replaced Alonso, with the veteran playing only 22 percent of the available minutes since his return.
The issue appeared to come to a head when player and coach exchanged words at the end of Real Madrid's narrow 2-1 win over Alaves on Tuesday, when Carvajal played only the final 27 minutes.
"The reason Dani isn't playing is that only 11 can play. That's why I say that I am, and have to be, unfair to the players," Arbeloa responded when asked about the situation.
"Carvajal is doing very well. He's important both on and off the field. I've said more than once that he's the most important academy graduate in the club's history. I've always had a great relationship with him. I've always treated him with respect," added Arbeloa, who rejected suggestions that he had left Carvajal out because of a poor relationship between them.
"I find it hard to believe that a coach makes lineups for anything other than footballing reasons... I see them train, and many of them do a great job. That's all there is to it," he insisted.
Carvajal is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to sign a new deal, but Arbeloa declined to say whether he wanted him to remain at the club.
"I can only say that whatever makes the club and the player happy will be good," he commented.
Arbeloa then discussed Alexander-Arnold, who has shown his quality on the ball but at times has looked vulnerable in defense.
"He deserves to play, his performance is beyond question. Every match is a matter of life and death for me. When I put a player in, it's because I believe they deserve it and because I think it's to win," concluded Arbeloa. ■
