Alvaro Arbeloa has publicly backed Jose Mourinho, saying that while the manager gave his all for Real Madrid, the club's players need to look at their own efforts, and maturity, when assessing the Portuguese’s tenure at the Bernabeu. Mourinho took heavy criticism from the press and large sections of the Madrid crowd throughout this season, as Los Blancos trailed well behind Barcelona from the start of the La Liga campaign, but the Spanish left back thinks the playing staff need to assess their own behaviour.

"A lot of us have been worried about not getting criticised in the press and trying to show ourselves in a good light, only speaking up when it was in our own interests.

“This is a very healthy, tight-knit dressing room, but maybe we lack the maturity to handle difficult situations,” Arbeloa said.

Arbeloa told Marca that Mourinho did all he could, sacrificing himself and his own public image for the good of the team.

"He fought tooth and nail for this club and has had to withstand a lot. He has always put Real Madrid before himself.

“This has often been at the cost of tarnishing his image and I don't know if everyone at the club, including some players, can say the same. Myself included.

“I always look out for myself first and want things to go well for me and then for the club. There are a lot of others like me.
"It's a shame we haven't won more trophies. Mourinho has won things wherever he's been and it's odd that perhaps the best squad he's had has been the one to win the least,” Arbeloa said.

Mourinho took charge of his final game with the club yesterday, with a 4-2 win over Osasuna at the Bernabeu his final act as manager of Real Madrid. He is widely expected to be announced as Chelsea manager in the coming days.