Real Madrid News
Real Madrid star pushing for his first start at Club World Cup against Borussia Dortmund
According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe is working hard to earn a place in the starting line-up for the Club World Cup quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund.
Mbappe, who made his debut in the tournament as a substitute against Juventus, has stepped up his training intensity in recent days.
During the recent training session, one of the standout moments was Mbappe’s determination to increase his pace.
Big decision looms for Alonso
Right now, Xabi Alonso faces a tough decision. Gonzalo Garcia, the young forward from the Real Madrid academy, has impressed everyone with his effort and, most importantly, his goals.
He has been in the starting eleven for all four of Real Madrid’s matches in the Club World Cup so far.
Many fans and experts believe Gonzalo has earned the right to keep his place against Dortmund this Saturday.
But Mbappe does not want to sit on the bench again and is pushing hard to start.
Experience or fresh blood?
Mbappe only got a few minutes on the pitch against Juventus, and during that time, he looked out of sync with the rest of the team and lacked match sharpness.
But everyone knows he is one of Real Madrid’s biggest stars, if not the main one. The big question now is how Xabi Alonso will handle the situation.
Will he reward Gonzalo’s strong performances and stick with him, or will he bring Mbappe into the starting line-up despite his lack of form?
So far, Alonso has shown he values what players do on the field more than their reputation. Gonzalo’s presence in the starting XI for every Club World Cup match proves that.
The coach’s priority is the team’s performance, not the players’ names, which makes it even more intriguing to see what will happen against Dortmund.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid star Huijsen credits Mourinho for improved form in new season: ‘He supports me a lot’
Real Madrid will be looking to get back to winning ways in LaLiga as they take on Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.
The club are coming on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis last weekend but did secure a narrow win over Inter Milan in the midweek Champions League fixture.
Heading into this game, Dean Huijsen, who has been showing a lot of promise in these early parts of the season, spoke to the club’s official media about the match ahead and how Real Madrid have been coping with the pressure early on, among other things.
Huijsen on Rayo and his defensive duties
The young centre-back was fully aware of the threat posed by Rayo and praised the opposition.
“We know that Rayo is a good team, and it’s a tough team to face, and we must give our all as we do in all matches to secure the three points, that’s the only thing that matters, and for the Bernabeu to be with us and for us all to be united,” he said.
He also detailed the defensive demands placed on him by the coaching staff led by Jose Mourinho.
“Well, what every coach asks of you: ferocity, intercepting balls, and winning one-on-one duels. He supports me a lot, and I think this helps me greatly, and defending together as a team,” he said.
On the team’s preparations for the fixture, Huijsen offered an insight into their training routine.
“We’re working on some tactics related to the opponent. And well, after that it depends on the day; we might play a mini-match among ourselves or not,” he added.
Huijsen on Mourinho and his fine form
The Spaniard was quick to credit Mourinho, with whom he previously worked at Roma, for his development and current level.
“We’ve known each other for a while, even though we spent a relatively short time together in Rome. He gave me the opportunity to make the real leap into professional football, and I’ll always be grateful to him for that,” Huijsen said.
Reflecting on his own performances, the defender was in confident mood, once again pointing to the influence of his coach and teammates.
“I think I’m in good shape. Well, I think I’m delivering a good level, and I believe that’s thanks to the coach too, as he keeps track of me and takes great care of me.”
“Well, I’m also doing my very best, and I think the teammates are supporting me too, and this is the perfect equation,” he added.
Finally, Huijsen explained how he manages his recovery amid a congested schedule.
“There are a lot of matches, so we need to recover well and stay focused on football, then you have to sleep well. And yes, on the days after the match, I also take a cold shower and a hot shower to recover better,” he concluded.
