Alvaro Arbeloa remained unfazed about Kylian Mbappe's activity on social media this week as the Real Madrid forward sparked rumours of Jose Mourinho returning to the club. Arbeloa was appointed as Xabi Alonso's successor in January, and despite a strong start, he looks set to end the 2025-26 campaign without a trophy to his name. Los Blancos are out of all domestic cup competitions, along with the Champions League, following their quarter-final exit to Bundesliga side Bayern Munich earlier this month. Madrid also find themselves nine points adrift of Clasico rivals Barcelona in LaLiga ahead of their trip to Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla to face Real Betis on Friday. Florentino Perez is expected to assess his options and former boss Mourinho, who is now in charge of Benfica, is among those to have been linked with a return. Speculation increased after fans noticed that star striker Mbappe had liked a social media post suggesting Mourinho could be a leading candidate for the role.The post highlighted the Portuguese coach's win rate during his previous spell and his impact on Cristiano Ronaldo at the club, but Arbeloa played down its significance. "These are things I don't even consider," Arbeloa said. "It doesn't bother me if he gives a like to Mourinho, Julia Roberts or anyone else. It has no importance."Mourinho managed Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning La Liga with a record-breaking 100-point total, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana.When asked about his future at the club, Arbeloa shifted the focus to Madrid's upcoming match against Betis. "My responsibility is to win every game, that's how I see it and that's what I ask of the players. We have to be professional and respectful of the badge."My role isn't to motivate Real Madrid players. They already set the highest standards for themselves. My job is to prepare them for what they'll face on the pitch."Madrid ended a run of three league games without a win on Tuesday as goals from Mbappe and Vinicius Junior clinched a nervy 2-1 win at home to Alaves. But Arbeloa was again forced to deny rumours of a rift with Dani Carvajal, with summer signing Trent Alexander-Arnold cementing his place in Madrid's defence of late. Carvajal has had a difficult season with injuries and was most recently kept out for over two months with a knee problem, allowing Alexander-Arnold to fill that gap. The Madrid boss was once again dismissive of a feud between himself and Carvajal, citing "sporting reasons" behind his decision to bench the experienced Spaniard. "It was a short, serious answer to a question I thought was out of place," Arbeloa added. "It wasn't short based on Dani Carvajal."You can see, since I've been here, what my answers have been about him, and you can ask my players how I spoke about Dani Carvajal with the group."People are trying to put an unjustified, unfair spin on this. He's more than ready to go to the World Cup. He's started games for us, and he's done well."He's a fundamental player, on and off the pitch, and for the national team it should be the same. He might be the most important academy product in the history of the club."I've always had a great relationship with him. It's hard for me to believe any coach would pick a team for non-sporting reasons."Real Betis responded to their quarter-final exit from the Europa League with a 3-2 win away to Girona in midweek, which helped them consolidate fifth place in the standings. Abde Ezzalzouli starred with a goal and two assists for Manuel Pellegrini's side, while Rodrigo Riquelme scored off the bench at Estadi Municipal de Montilivi.PLAYERS TO WATCHReal Betis – Pablo FornalsShould Betis continue their push for a European place, they will need the experienced Fornals to be at his very best. No player has created more chances in LaLiga this season than Fornals' 73, while the Spaniard's 11 top-flight goal involvements (seven goals, four assists) are only bettered by Antony (12) and Ezzalzouli (14) in Betis' squad. Real Madrid – Kylian MbappeAfter his strike against Alaves, Mbappe has now scored eight goals from outside the box this season in all competitions (43 games), more than any other player across Europe's top five leagues in 2025-26 (Dominik Szoboszlai and Harry Kane are second with seven). The Madrid number 10 also has two goals in two LaLiga games against Real Betis, and he will be keen to add to that tally against them here. MATCH PREDICTION: REAL MADRID WINThe Opta supercomputer has Arbeloa's side as the favourites to come away with all three points, though Los Blancos have struggled in their recent trips to Betis. Madrid are winless in their last three visits to Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla (D2 L1), with their last triumph at the stadium coming in August 2021 when Carvajal's 61st-minute strike sealed a 1-0 victory. Arbeloa's side have netted 67 goals in LaLiga this season, a total only bettered by Barcelona (85), though it is their struggles at the back that will be the most concerning. Madrid have conceded at least one goal in each of their last nine LaLiga matches (12 goals), surpassing their worst run in the competition since September 2019, when they allowed 14 goals in eight games under Zinedine Zidane.Betis, meanwhile, ended their seven-match winless run in LaLiga with victory over Girona last time out, which was their longest run without a triumph in the competition since January 2016. They last won back-to-back league games in February. OPTA WIN PROBABILITYReal Betis – 27.5%Draw – 23.6%Real Madrid – 48.8%