Real Madrid News
Alarm bells at Real Madrid: Kylian Mbappe picks an injury during Atalanta game
Real Madrid faced significant setbacks last season due to injuries, and unfortunately, this trend seems to be continuing into the current campaign.
The latest player to join Real Madrid’s list of casualties is Kylian Mbappe, who sustained a blow in the ongoing UEFA Champions League encounter against Atalanta.
The Frenchman needed merely 10 minutes to stamp his name on the scoreboard thanks to a crafty first touch and clinical far post finish.
Fatefully, his night was cut short after what appears to be a muscle injury. After going down on the ground injured and clearly unable to play on, coach Carlo Ancelotti replaced him with Rodrygo.
Despite not being fully fit himself, the Brazilian was compelled to enter the pitch, a strong indicator that things do not look good for Mbappe, who was not even in a position to see the half out.
It goes without saying this will be an especially tough blow considering the 2018 World Cup winner was just beginning to find form in the royal white jersey.
Having scored against Girona and Getafe, Mbappe’s stocks were on the ascendance.
An untimely setback will interrupt his progress and dwindles the Merengues’ attacking options.
While Vinicius jr has made an incredibly swift comeback and is sure to alleviate the strain of Mbappe’s absence, Real Madrid now run the risk of rushing him back into action.
Time will tell how long Mbappe is forced to spend on the sidelines, but fans will be hoping to see him back in action soon.
After three successive wins to start the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis came as a reality check for Real Madrid, who are still some way off matching the quality and consistency of Barcelona.
In light of the defeat, the Real Madrid coaching staff is analysing the best way to get the most out of the current setup.
More expected from Valverde
According to Defensa Central, one of the key conclusions drawn from the Betis defeat is that Real Madrid need greater involvement from Federico Valverde with the ball.
The Uruguayan has been deployed as the pivot, largely due to the absence of the injured Aurelien Tchouameni, but he is yet to make the step up in quality the team requires from that role.
While his effort and commitment are never in doubt, Mourinho and his staff, led by Sami Khedira, feel Valverde spends too much time positioned behind the opposition’s midfield line.
As a result, he fails to offer passing lanes to his teammates when they are under pressure, forcing them into hurried, aimless clearances rather than playing out cleanly from the back.
That concern has already been communicated to Valverde, who is still adapting to a position he has never truly played, making the challenge all the more difficult for him.
A collective issue to fix
However, the problem is not Valverde’s alone, with the coaching staff identifying a wider issue in the team’s structure.
Khedira has reportedly noted a certain passivity from the attackers in the videos of the match, particularly Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, when it comes to offering themselves as the ball transitions from midfield into attacking areas.
That lack of movement compounds the difficulties for the deeper midfielders.
Mourinho, for his part, remains unfazed by the departure of Rodri to Barcelona, insisting his squad has the tools to cope.
“I’m not missing Rodri. We have solutions, we have quality,” the Portuguese said, before adding that he backs his ability to improve players.
With a Champions League opener against Inter Milan on the horizon, Mourinho and his staff will be keen to iron out these issues quickly.
