Coach Álvaro Arbeloa has dismissed concerns over Kylian Mbappé’s return impacting Real Madrid, just ahead of their Champions League quarterfinal match against Bayern Munich at the Bernabéu on Tuesday.
Mbappé made his return to the starting lineup after recovering from a knee sprain, but his first match back ended in a surprising 2-1 defeat to Mallorca on Saturday, causing Madrid to fall seven points behind league leaders Barcelona in the La Liga title chase.
The team had thrived without Mbappé, achieving five consecutive victories while Arbeloa deployed a compact 4-4-2 formation, featuring Brahim Díaz alongside Vinícius Júnior in attack.
“Mbappé has a different skill set compared to Brahim, which requires us to adjust our approach, but I welcome that challenge,” Arbeloa stated at a Monday press conference. “He came to Real Madrid to play in matches like tomorrow’s against Bayern, and I’m confident we’ll see the best of Kylian.”
This season, Mbappé has netted 13 goals in nine Champions League appearances, although he only played 21 minutes during Madrid’s significant round-of-16 win over Manchester City.
“What truly matters is my perspective: we are incredibly fortunate to have Mbappé back,” Arbeloa said. “No coach would ever turn down the opportunity to have him on their team. He understands the essence of Real Madrid deeply and has always aspired to wear the jersey. Please ask me about him again after the match against Bayern.”
Arbeloa also has to address the inclusion of Jude Bellingham, who has returned from a hamstring injury and has been utilized as a substitute in the last two games against Atlético Madrid and Mallorca.
In Bellingham’s absence, Arbeloa has relied on academy players like Thiago Pitarch and Manuel Ángel, as well as Arda Güler in midfield.
“With Bellingham on the pitch, we’re a stronger team, and I’m confident of that,” Arbeloa said. “You’ll see him play tomorrow. He brings unique qualities to the team, and we need to adapt to each other. It’s a delightful predicament to have.”