Real Madrid News
PSG president takes clear swipe at Real Madrid star after UCL success – ‘We were lucky without him’
Storylines in football are often fascinating but can be equally cruel and Kylian Mbappe’s situation can be said to be a testament to the same.
After all, the World Cup winner chased the UEFA Champions League for years at PSG alongside some of the greats of the game including Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr.
After being unsuccessful for years, he decided to join the kings of the competition, Real Madrid, in his bid to do the same only for PSG to go on and win it the same year.
Needless to say, a lot of conclusions have been drawn about Mbappe and whether he was a burden at PSG, especially given the more cohesive gameplay the French side have shown this season.
Al-Khelaifi speaks on Mbappe
Speaking to the media in a recent interview, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi opened up on the team’s success in the UCL and how it happened to arrive immediately after Mbappe’s departure from the club.
Despite being hard done by the Frenchman’s exit, however, the president praised Mbappe and his impact on PSG.
“Winning the Champions League without Mbappe? I have no regrets regarding Mbappe. He could have had this great adventure with us.“
He went on to add that the team won this season despite Mbappe leaving, but because of his decision to leave and had warm words for his adventure in Spain.
“We were lucky this year without him, but I wish him the best for the future with Real Madrid, as long as he doesn’t face Paris Saint-Germain.“
Mbappe won the Pichichi award in his first season at Real Madrid and has gone on to become the team’s most important attacking player. With a new manager and blockbuster signings, he could well conquer Europe for the first time next season.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
After a month into the new season, Aurelien Tchouameni is finally back in action for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season for the Merengues last night against Inter Milan after recovering from the muscular injury that delayed his campaign.
His return to fitness had raised questions over where he would fit into Mourinho’s plans.
Tchouameni has been a regular in Real Madrid’s midfield for several seasons under different managers, but the end of last season was far less straightforward.
His confrontation with Federico Valverde, combined with speculation over his future at the club, created uncertainty about his position. His lack of a proper pre-season also appeared to put him behind other midfield options.
Bernardo Silva had established himself as an important figure, while Eduardo Camavinga was also ahead of Tchouameni in terms of match fitness.
With Real Madrid looking for greater creativity in midfield, there were questions over whether the Frenchman would still be a first-choice player.
Key for Mourinho
According to AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital), however, Mourinho has no such doubts. Tchouameni remains a key player for the Portuguese coach and is expected to be a starter.
Mourinho sees the French international as a midfielder without a direct replacement in the squad.
For Jose, Tchouameni provides something that none of the other midfielders in the squad do – a more defensive and positional presence, combining his tactical discipline with considerable physical strength.
His ability to shield the defence and provide balance could be particularly important for a Real Madrid side that want to defend aggressively and attack quickly in transition.
For that reason, his absence at the start of the campaign has not changed the manager’s view of his importance.
Mourinho faces a midfield selection problem
The challenge for Mourinho now is finding a way to fit all the pieces together.
If Tchouameni is guaranteed a starting position and Valverde is considered untouchable as captain, the obvious consequence is that Bernardo could find himself starting from the bench.
The summer arrival had been given an important role in helping Real Madrid control and distribute possession from deeper positions.
However, with Tchouameni and Valverde both occupying midfield places, Mourinho cannot accommodate everyone in the same lineup.
How the Portuguese coach manages that competition will be interesting to see in the coming weeks.
