Alvaro Arbeloa claims it's 'easier for Real Madrid to win Champions League than La Liga' in new dig at domestic officials

Referees blamed for domestic struggles

Arbeloa pointed to recent domestic frustrations as evidence, following a series of contentious decisions that he believes have contributed to Los Blancos trailing Barcelona by nine points in the title race. The frustration reached boiling point after a recent 1-1 draw with Girona, where Kylian Mbappe was denied what the club felt was a stonewall penalty.

Historical records and officiating scandals

"There's a reason, and it's easy for many to see," Arbeloa said when asked to explain why Madrid have won six Champions League titles in the last 20 years, while only securing seven league titles in that same period. "We certainly have room for improvement in La Liga in recent years, and in these past few months, I think we've performed better in the big, difficult games than against lesser opponents."

The coach's criticism is the latest in a long-standing battle between the club and the Spanish refereeing body,

Winning mentality amid trophy drought

Amid the complaints, the reality is that Los Blancos are staring down the barrel of

He continued: "Real Madrid is a club where things usually go well. The mentality of this club is always to look to the future. At Real Madrid, losing isn't acceptable... We have to win our seven remaining matches."

Uncertainty surrounds Arbeloa's future

The shadow of