Álvaro Arbeloa takes stock of his time over the past three years alongside the coach he has always supported, one month after José Mourinho's departure from Real Madrid, and who he believes was such an important figure that even "the President of Spain should be grateful", because in his view "he has stopped people talking more about what's been happening in Spain".

"The biggest thing Mourinho has given me is that mind-set and intensity of wanting to win on an every day basis. Of knowing that you always have to work your hardest because that is what it takes to achieve success in the end", says Arbeloa.

"No-one feels indifferent about Mourinho. You're either with him to the death or against him. I think he has been such an important figure over the past three years that he has become blown out of all proportion", the Spanish defender continues.

"It's not all hits when you're in a team like Real Madrid for three years. When you're the coach of Real Madrid and you have to make a lot of important decisions, it's normal to make mistakes. I'm sure Mourinho's made mistakes, but if he did it was because he thought it was the best thing for the team and done without malice. You can't criticize him for anything. Nobody's perfect. The same will happen now with Ancelotti. I'm sure he'll have his hits, but he'll have his misses too" Arbeloa concluded.