Try to be Jose Mourinho and I’ll fail: new Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa

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Real Madrids new coach Alvaro Arbeloa during a training session on Jan 13.

PHOTO: AFP

MADRID – Real Madrid’s new coach Alvaro Arbeloa insisted on Jan 13 he would be himself at the helm of the Spanish giants rather than trying to imitate Jose Mourinho.

Arbeloa, who in his playing days at Real was an ally of his then-coach Mourinho, has drawn comparisons to the Portuguese veteran for his approach to management.

The 42-year-old former defender was appointed to replace Xabi Alonso on Jan 12, a day after Real Madrid lost the Spanish Super Cup final against rivals Barcelona.

“I have not spoken to Jose yet. For me, it was a privilege and an honour to be coached by Jose Mourinho,” Arbeloa told a news conference.

“I have a great relationship with him... and obviously he was someone who influenced me a lot, I carry him within me.

“(However) I am going to be Alvaro Arbeloa, because while it’s true I am not afraid of failing, and have never been, I’m sure that if I tried to be Jose Mourinho, I would fail spectacularly.”

Mourinho, currently coaching Benfica, led Real between 2010 and 2013, winning one La Liga title.

During that era, he battled against Pep Guardiola’s dominant Barcelona when the fierce rivalry between the Catalan side and Real was at its most bitter.

Barca currently lead Real by four points at the top of La Liga and Arbeloa’s job is to reverse the situation, although his first match in charge is at Albacete in the Copa del Rey last