Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa is unconcerned about speculation that Jose Mourinho is poised to succeed him at the end of the season.

Arbeloa, who replaced Xabi Alonso in January, is seemingly unlikely to continue in his role beyond a disappointing and almost certainly trophy-less campaign for Los Blancos.

Madrid are 11 points adrift of Barcelona, who will be crowned LaLiga champions if they beat Osasuna on Saturday and Arbeloa’s men fail to overcome Espanyol on Sunday.

If both teams prevail, then Barca can win the title with a draw in the Clasico.

Arbeloa brushes off Mourinho Real Madrid speculation

Reports have suggested Benfica boss Mourinho, who coached Madrid from 2010 to 2013 when Arbeloa was a player at the club, is president Florentino Perez’s preferred candidate.

But asked about those rumours, Arbeloa gave the questions short shrift.

“No, what worries me is tomorrow’s game,” Arbeloa told his pre-match press conference.

“That’s what I’m focused on, thinking about Real Madrid and the team. For me the future is tomorrow.”

“I understand all the questions on this topic. But my only answer will always be the same. That’s what worries me, winning those three points.”

Arbeloa refused to directly address questions about a reported row with Dani Ceballos.

“I won’t get into public debates about situations that I have with my players,” Arbeloa said.

“When I first came into the Real Madrid first team dressing room over 20 years ago, the first thing I learnt from the experienced players is that what happens in the Real Madrid dressing room stays there. I’ve carried that with me for over 20 years.”

Denying that he had been disappointed with his players’ mentality since taking over, Arbeloa added: “With the majority, we’ve had an honest relationship. We’ve spoken a lot in private about everything that needed to be sorted out between us, and that’s how it should be done. While I’m in this chair, I’ll always defend them.”

But Arbeloa conceded Madrid will need to show a different mindset if they are to contend for trophies again going forward, with an inconsistency in league results derailing their challenge. Barca and Madrid have each lost five times in the league, but the Blaugrana have won 28 games to Madrid’s 23. Hansi Flick’s side have drawn just once, while Madrid have been held five times.

“It’s true that the results are far from what Real Madrid should be,” said Arbeloa. “Nowadays, you don’t win by just getting off the bus, but it’s clear that the difference in level between Real Madrid players and the teams we face is only on paper.

“We have to improve a lot, as I always say, on a collective level. Nowadays, I believe that even with the talent we have, it’s not enough to just put the ball on the ground and play individually. I think we need a collective idea, a plan, a structure, patterns, and movements. To know what the team-mate will do, how we want to unbalance the opponent.

“All of this, evidently, requires perhaps a different mentality from what we’ve had, and we’ve paid for it with points.”