Alvaro Arbeloa says Kylian Mbappe “doing very well” and could travel to Manchester
Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa is hopeful that Kylian Mbappe will be fit enough to travel for next week’s second-leg Champions League match against Manchester City following a lingering knee issue.
Mbappe sat out Madrid’s emphatic 3-0 victory over City in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. In his absence, midfielder Federico Valverde scored a first-half hat-trick that gave the Spanish side an overwhelming advantage in the tie.
The France international has been managing a sprain in his left knee since December, forcing him to miss several key matches during the crucial stretch of the season. Despite that, Arbeloa indicated that the 27-year-old is making encouraging progress.
“[Mbappe] is getting better every day,” Arbeloa said on Friday ahead of Madrid’s league game with Elche. “His development is progressing as it should. We made a plan. It depends on his progress, but I think he’s doing very well. He won’t be available tomorrow, but I expect he’ll travel to Manchester.”
Madrid have relied heavily on Mbappe this season, with the forward leading the club’s scoring charts on 38 goals across all competitions. His injury has already ruled him out of several significant fixtures, including Madrid’s meeting with City during the league phase of the Champions League, most of the Spanish Supercopa campaign and the second leg of their playoff tie against Benfica.
Arbeloa was also asked whether Mbappe might benefit from sitting out France’s upcoming international fixtures to help his recovery, but the Madrid boss insisted his immediate focus lies with the club’s upcoming schedule.
“That’s a long way off,” Arbeloa said. “I want him to be able to travel to Manchester. Let’s see tomorrow and on Sunday, when we’ll make a final decision. Let’s hope he’s there, and that he’s there against Atletico Madrid [on 22 March]. As for France, we’ll see when the time comes.”
Before attention turns back to Europe, Madrid must first navigate the La Liga meeting with Elche on Saturday. Arbeloa insisted he would not rotate heavily despite the team’s exertions in midweek.
“Tomorrow we’ll field the best possible XI to win,” Madrid’s coach said. “I’m not thinking about anything else. The players have to end each match completely exhausted. It’s their job. They have to be ready to fight like they did on Wednesday.”
