Aurelien Tchouameni has become one of the few permanent fixtures in the starting lineup for Real Madrid this season.
Be it under Xabi Alonso in the first half of the season, or under Alvaro Arbeloa since January, the French international has been a mainstay in the team and has performed quite consistently as well, unlike some of his teammates.
As such, his absence for tonight’s UEFA Champions League clash against Bayern Munich, due to a suspension, comes as a huge blow for Arbeloa and Real Madrid.
Arbeloa and Tchouameni’s relationship
According to MARCA, Arbeloa and Tchouameni share a very strong relationship which has been built on the coach’s complete trust in the Frenchman’s role within the team.
As soon as he arrived on the Real Madrid bench, the manager called the midfielder in to deliver a promise he knew the player would like.
“With me, you’re not going back to playing as a centre-back again,” Arbeloa told Tchouameni.
The Frenchman became his holding midfielder, a key pillar in the middle, and he made it clear he had no intention of moving him from there.
With Arbeloa, Tchouameni delivered immediate performances and, under the new coach, the Frenchman continued the growth he had already begun under Alonso.
Tchouameni has become an integral part of the team. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
His game kept improving and, in addition, he started to gain influence in the dressing room, gradually becoming one of the important voices in the group.
However, there was a moment that strengthened that bond between coach and player even further. It came in the match against Celta Vigo, in the middle of the injury crisis that had left the team badly affected ahead of facing Manchester City.
Tchouameni, aware of the situation, knocked on Arbeloa’s office door and offered to play as a centre-back if the team needed it. The coach’s response was firm: he thanked him for the gesture but reminded him of his promise.
“You’re my midfielder, and that’s where you’ll stay. I’d rather use someone from the youth academy,” he essentially told him.
Far from creating doubts, that decision strengthened the player, who responded on the pitch with a decisive goal that allowed the white team to take three key points.
Now, Tchouameni’s absence in Munich is a significant blow for the team and for Arbeloa himself. Even so, the Frenchman has once again shown his commitment.
Despite being suspended, he travelled with the group, aware of the importance of the moment. With his status as an authoritative voice in the dressing room now firmly established, he did not want to leave his teammates alone on the most important night of the season.
