Real Madrid News
Arbeloa talks Vinicius, Mbappe, Carvajal, El Clasico after Espanyol 0-2 Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe was absent for Real Madrid’s clash against Espanyol last night, and the team once again won with a 2-0 margin and a dominant performance.
It was Vinicius Jr. who scored both of the team’s goals, and he looked like a completely different version of himself compared to the Vinicius who has played in recent weeks.
The win comes as a much-needed one for Los Blancos as they now garner much-needed momentum ahead of El Clasico while also keeping the title race alive.
Arbeloa’s presser
Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa gave his two cents on the game and the team’s win last night after the full-time whistle at the RCDE Stadium, and he began by highlighting how the team’s first clean sheet in ten games was invaluable.
“Dean Huijsen just passed by me, celebrating the clean sheet, which shows how important that is to us. We haven’t had one in a long time.”
Arbeloa then praised Vinicius Jr., who scored two goals on the night and spoke on how the Brazilian led by example.
“Vinicius Junior was amazing as usual. He is a constant threat; he is our leader once again.”
The manager then highlighted the areas where Real Madrid must still improve, explaining how the team do not put in as much work off the ball.
“All teams run more than we do. We need to run more, press, and defend. Talent alone is no longer enough. The players need to understand that. This is the essence of Real Madrid.”
On Mbappe’s trip to Italy
The coach was then asked about Mbappe’s decision to vacation when injured despite a Clasico being on the horizon and whether he saw it to be poir professionalism. Arbeloa, however, wiped his hands clean of Mbappe’s situation, saying,
“All the planning for the injured players is supervised and managed by Real Madrid’s medical services.”
“They are the ones who control when they have to go to Valdebebas and when they don’t. Each player in their free time does what they consider appropriate.
“I don’t get involved in that,” he added.
Speaking specifically about Mbappe and the player being on vacation when the team is on the verge of losing the title, he said,
“Mbappe on holiday? Every player does what they want in their free time.
“We didn’t build Real Madrid with players who take the field dressed in tuxedos but with players who end up with the shirt covered in mud, sweat, and effort.”
On El Clasico
Finally, the Real Madrid manager previewed the upcoming El Clasico which could well be the night the title race is decided.
“The Clásico will be a very special game, just as it always has been.”
When asked if Mbappe and Carvajal will be fit for the game against Barcelona at Spotify Camp Nou, Arbeloa said,
“We’ll see how Mbappe is this week, after last week’s tests it seemed like it was going to be a bit longer.”
“Same with Carvajal, I have high hopes that he can play before the season ends and that he can say goodbye to the season on the field, which is what he deserves,” he added.
Source: Real Madrid website
Real Madrid News
Kylian Mbappe fires back at critics over his Real Madrid role: ‘A player who scores goals will never be the problem’
Kylian Mbappe has started the new season for Real Madrid in great form, scoring five goals in five games so far.
The Frenchman has continued from where he left off last season, with seemingly no drop in his scoring rate, and he could have had one more had he not missed his penalty against Real Betis.
The 27-year-old superstar has pushed back against criticism of his contribution to Real Madrid, insisting that his goalscoring should not be treated as a problem.
Mbappe’s logic is that the fundamental objective of football is to outscore the opposition and that, therefore, goalscoring should never be seen as an issue.
As quoted by Mundo Deportivo, Mbappe addressed the issue in an interview with L’Equipe, where he spoke openly about criticism of his defensive work and the constant scrutiny associated with him.
Mbappe responds to criticism
The Madrid forward believes people have become so accustomed to his attacking production that attention naturally shifts towards what he does not provide.
“Is it normal that people forget my goals and focus on the defensive work? No, but that is the life of someone who has been close to excellence for 10 years. I am not new to this. Everyone knows what I can do,” Mbappe said.
“It is human to look at what someone does not do. When someone has been doing something for 10 years, we stop looking at it because we know he can do it, so we look at what he is not doing. I do not take it personally.”
Mbappe’s standards are so high that scoring regularly can almost be taken for granted. However, one has to remember how remarkable that consistency is.
‘A player who scores goals will never be a problem’
Mbappe was even firmer when discussing suggestions that his goals may not necessarily translate into collective success.
“It makes no sense. If I do not score goals, they are going to ask me why I am not scoring,” he said.
“As a footballer, I have learned that there are millions of coaches in every match you play, and not all of those coaches are happy. Everyone has an opinion, but in football the objective is to score more goals than the opponent.”
Then came his clearest message.
“A player who scores goals will never be the problem of a team, because no team has ever won titles without scoring goals.”
Madrid need balance, not less of Mbappe
Mbappe’s argument is difficult to dismiss.
Even if they say “attack wins you games, defence wins you tournaments”, you cannot win games unless you score goals, and you cannot win tournaments unless you win games.
Madrid can demand more collective work from every player, especially under Jose Mourinho, without pretending elite goalscoring is somehow secondary.
The real challenge is finding the right balance.
Madrid need Mbappe to remain devastating in front of goal while fitting into the team’s pressing and defensive structure. Those demands are not one or the other.
If anything, Mourinho’s task is to build a system that protects Mbappe’s greatest strength while still making Madrid harder to play against.
Mbappe’s goals are not, and never will be, the problem. The onus is on the manager to bring those strengths out in a system that also preserves the defensive structure.
