Real Madrid’s Álvaro Arbeloa: Kylian Mbappé set to travel for Champions League match against Man City
Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa expressed on Friday that he is optimistic that star forward Kylian Mbappé will be able to join the team for their pivotal Champions League round-of-16 second-leg match against Manchester City next week.
Mbappé was absent during Wednesday’s 3-0 victory for Madrid at the Bernabéu, with midfielder Federico Valverde stepping up to net a hat trick.
The French international has been recuperating from a sprain in his left knee, an issue that has affected him since December, as Real Madrid approaches a critical series of matches, including the encounter with City and a LaLiga derby against Atletico Madrid.
“[Mbappé] is improving every day,” Arbeloa stated in a press conference on Friday, prior to Madrid’s league match against Elche. “His recovery is on track. We have devised a plan. It hinges on his progress, but I believe he is doing quite well. He won’t be available for tomorrow, but I anticipate he will travel to Manchester.”
Mbappé leads Madrid in scoring with 38 goals across all competitions this season, but the knee issue has caused him to miss several key matches, including the league encounter with City, a significant portion of the Spanish Supercopa, and the second leg of their Champions League playoff against Benfica.
Arbeloa refrained from commenting on whether he believes Mbappé should rest during the upcoming international break to facilitate his recovery once he returns to the club.
“That’s a long way off,” Arbeloa remarked. “I want him to be able to travel to Manchester. We’ll assess the situation tomorrow and on Sunday, when we will make a final decision. Let’s hope he is available, and that he can play against Atlético Madrid [on March 22]. As for France, we will evaluate that when the time arrives.”
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Arbeloa indicated that he would field a strong lineup to face struggling Elche on Saturday, despite the demands of the City match.
“Tomorrow we will put out the best possible XI to secure a win,” the coach stated. “I am not considering anything else. The players need to finish each match completely spent; that is their responsibility. They must be prepared to compete as they did on Wednesday.”
The coach also commended goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who made an impressive point-blank save to maintain Madrid’s three-goal advantage in the first leg against City.
“I have played alongside some of the finest goalkeepers in the world, some of whom have even been regarded as the best in history,” Arbeloa noted. “However, what Courtois accomplishes is unparalleled. There is no debate; in my view, he is unquestionably the best goalkeeper in Real Madrid’s history.”
