Alvaro Arbeloa has admitted to being "intentionally unfair" after leaving superstars Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham on the bench for Real Madrid's thrilling 3-2 derby victory over Atletico Madrid. Despite declaring both players fully fit before the clash, the head coach opted for a cautious approach following their recent injury lay-offs. The decision sparked debate at the Bernabeu as Los Blancos continue their pursuit of La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Alvaro Arbeloa has confirmed that Jude Bellingham is set to return for Real Madrid in their derby clash with Atletico Madrid after a six-week absence. The England international has been called up by Thomas Tuchel for his next squad, and is now set to make his first appearance for Los Blancos since February 1 when the two bitter rivals meet again.
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has dismissed concerns regarding Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham joining their national teams. Despite recent injury scares at the Santiago Bernabeu, the coach insists the superstar duo are ready for both club and country, thus he is happy for them to play over the upcoming international window.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are set to face off in the Champions League quarter-finals. However, a nightmare scenario looms for Real Madrid, particularly in the second leg.
Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed that Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe have returned to the Real Madrid squad ahead of the trip to face Manchester City in the Champions League. Both players have been dealing with fitness issues but the head coach says they are now ready to travel with the team, with Mbappe available to play while Bellingham is close to making his return.
Carlo Ancelotti reflected on the final months of his historic tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Italian tactician, who is now leading the Brazilian national team, explained how Kylian Mbappe's arrival coincided with a turning point that required more than just tactical adjustments. While Mbappe’s talent was never in question, his integration occurred at the same time the squad lost its traditional leadership core.
Kylian Mbappe is officially back in the fold for Real Madrid after a knee injury kept him out of the first-leg victory at the Bernabeu. The French superstar has undergone a conservative treatment plan over the last three weeks to avoid surgery, and his progress at Valdebebas has been swift enough to warrant a place in the squad to face Manchester City alongside Jude Bellingham, who has also been out recently.
Kylian Mbappe has handed Real Madrid a fitness boost after completing a normal training session with the rest of the first-team squad on Sunday. The forward has been working through a fitness programme to overcome a persistent knee problem that kept him out of recent domestic action, but his presence in Valdebebas suggests he is closing in on a return to first-team action.
Real Madrid face a dilemma over Kylian Mbappe's fitness ahead of their Champions League clash with Manchester City clash as France and Nike demand his presence for international friendlies. The World Cup winner may be called upon by his country despite sitting out matches at club level.
Kylian Mbappe will reportedly board the plane with the Real Madrid squad this Monday as they travel to England. Desperate to avoid just watching from the sidelines, the forward is pushing to be available for Alvaro Arbeloa in this decisive Champions League last-16 second leg against Manchester City. After missing recent action, the Frenchman is eager to help his side navigate the Etihad cauldron and secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
There is a clear bond between the two greatest French forwards of their respective generations, even if they never had the chance to share a pitch. Thierry Henry, now 48, remains a constant source of inspiration for Kylian Mbappe, who is currently chasing down the final few goals needed to surpass Olivier Giroud as Les Bleus' all-time record goalscorer.
Real Madrid continue to face a selection headache ahead of their La Liga clash with Elche as several superstars remain sidelined. Manager Alvaro Arbeloa has been forced to dig deep into the academy ranks to patch up a depleted matchday squad ahead of the meeting with Manchester City on Tuesday.
Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out of Real Madrid’s La Liga fixture against Elche as he continues his recovery from injury. Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed that the Frenchman will be expected to feature in the upcoming Champions League clash against Manchester City.
Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike believes his "difficult" stint at Paris Saint-Germain was the perfect bridge to stardom. Despite struggling for consistent minutes in the French capital, the 23-year-old insists that sharing a dressing room with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar provided him with an incomparable education that is now paying dividends in the Premier League.
Thierry Henry has leapt to the defence of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, insisting his fellow Frenchman has been unfairly criticised in his career due to the high standards expected of him. Mbappe rose to stardom with AS Monaco before securing a nine-figure move to Paris Saint-Germain and winning the World Cup with France as a key starter while still a teenager. To date, Mbappe has scored 365 times in 460 club appearances, while he has also grabbed 55 goals in 94 caps for France, second to only Olivier Giroud in Les Bleus' all-time leading scorers list. Despite these many accolades, Mbappe has never won the Champions League as a player, and despite being tipped to take home many Ballon d'Or awards in an era after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's duopoly, he has yet to claim a Golden Ball for himself.
Within a Real Madrid squad that is packed full of Galacticos, Fede Valverde is rarely singled out for what he offers to Los Blancos despite his obvious importance to the team. On Wednesday, though, he was able to hog the limelight after his stunning first-half hat-trick saw off Manchester City in the Champions League. His performance also earned him the rarest of plaudits: A 10/10 rating from L'Equipe.
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