Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa says he does not expect his team’s fans to complain when they return to La Liga action on Sunday after a disappointing defeat saw them drop out of the top eight of the Champions League in midweek.

Madrid lost 4-2 to Benfica on Wednesday thanks to the keeper’s performance. Anatoly Trubin He scored a header in the 98th minute, dropping him to 9th place in the UCL standings. In other words, they will face the same opponent in the playoffs in February with the aim of advancing to the Round of 16.

The Bernabéu crowd blew the whistle on the team earlier this month after the sacking of Arbeloa’s predecessor, Xabi Alonso, followed by a Copa del Rey exit, but their form had improved before this latest setback.

“No, I expect the Bernabéu to be in the team,” Arbeloa said at Saturday’s press conference ahead of Madrid’s game against Rayo Vallecano when asked if he was prepared for a hostile response. “We know we need our fans. I always ask for their support, because together we are stronger. Our goal is to win on Sunday and continue to fight for the league.”

So far in Arbeloa’s reign, Madrid have been eliminated in the Copa del Rey, followed by back-to-back La Liga wins against Levante and Villarreal, before losing to Benfica on Wednesday.

star player Kylian Mbappe and jude bellingham Bellingham called the performance “terrible” and Mbappe said the result was “not about quality or tactics, but about will.”

“We’re working on finding the consistency we need,” Arbeloa said Saturday. “It’s not the time to get disillusioned or elated. It’s the time to work, that’s all… Regrets are a dead end. When things don’t go well, you have to improve. That’s my path as a coach. Sure, I’m going to make a lot of mistakes.”

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star Vinicius Jr. Bellingham was named after a whistle from the crowd against Levante, but Arbeloa has repeatedly supported his key players this season and achieved results.

“I understand all the arguments in football, but I always want to have the best players on the pitch,” he said. “The more time they can play, the better… They are players who can start the game at any time.

“People who aren’t Madrid fans won’t want them there, but I think Madrid fans want their best players on the pitch all the time.”

Despite their struggles, Madrid started the weekend just one point behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga, who visit Elche on Saturday.