Alvaro Arbeloa has revealed what has given Real Madrid the motivation to succeed this season.
Los Blancos have already won the Copa del Rey this term, have qualified for the Champions League final and are in with a slim shot of winning the title with two games to go.
And the defender has admitted that the image of Gerard Pique holding up five fingers after Barcelona’s 5-0 win over the Merengues has been plastered around the training ground.
“Someone plastered their comments about how much better they were and their style and photos of Piqué's hand gesture all over Valdebebas,” he told Jot Down.
“Don't ask me who it was because I have no idea. It wasn't Mou because he wasn't into all that.
The Spain international then commented on Jose Mourinho’s tempestuous reign in the capital.
“We found out all about Mou one day in pre-season. I was among the Spanish players who had just won the World Cup and joined up with the squad in Los Angeles.
“We were 2-0 down at the break against LA Galaxy and he just let rip! We quickly found out what he was made of.
“You couldn't imagine [former boss Manuel] Pellegrini shouting at Cristiano like that. 'You don't want to run? No problem: I'll put you on the bench. You neither? No problem: you're out', he said, sparing no one.”
Finally, Arbeloa remarked on Diego Costa’s remarkable goalscoring season for Atletico Madrid.
“You see Diego Costa play and you think: 'Damn, what is that guy doing?'.
“But I'd love a Diego Costa in my team. A terrier who goes for every ball and gets in everyone's face. And when I play against him I know I have to get physical, that's just the way it is.”
