Real Madrid News
Real Madrid scoring sensation expected to be available for Man City tie after positive recovery
Kylian Mbappe was not part of Real Madrid’s wins over Manchester City or Elche, and the team’s improvement suggests that they could hit a new gear with him back.
Out with a knee injury for a few weeks now, Alvaro Arbeloa and Co. have always been hopeful that he can return in time for the second leg vs Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
With the team having a 3-0 lead now, there is no need to rush the talisman back from injury, but the player is still desperate to return from his setback and help the team at the earliest.
A status update
As reported by Diario AS in a recent report, Mbappe is recovering well and his recent feelings about his knee are positive. His discomfort is disappearing, and it would appear that avoiding surgery was the right option.
At no point in his injury was surgery considered an option, as all his consultations revealed that it could be managed conservatively. Even the upcoming FIFA World Cup did not influence the decision to avoid surgery.
In the last two days, Mbappe has expressed his strong desire to play against Manchester City later this week, and it is not ruled out in any sense, looking at his current status.
His knee has improved a lot in the last three weeks, and while he is not yet fit to start, he is expected to be part of the squad and start on the bench at the Etihad Stadium.
His injury is not fully gone yet, but it is not ruled out that he will play some minutes against Manchester City.
The final decision, needless to say, will depend on Alvaro Arbeloa and the team’s situation.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
