Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa has said that the club "lacked maturity" at various stages throughout the season.

Los Blancos eventually finished runners-up in La Liga, 15 points behind winners Barcelona, and Arbeloa feels that the club had lost the title as early as September.

"The responsibility is everyone's, we lacked maturity in difficult situations," Arbeloa told reporters.

"We lost hope of catching Barcelona after the setbacks of the first month. By September we never believed we could win, with the gap being so many points. It was a shame not to have fought till the end.

"I think it has been a turbulent season, especially at the end. There were many who did not agree with the coach and while that was respectable, we should have put the fans first in these three years."

Arbeloa signed from Liverpool for a reported £2.5m in 2009.

Written by
Paul Gorst