Manager confirms Kylian Mbappe will be in the squad to face Levante
Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has urged supporters to back the team as they seek to turn results around and bring a positive mood back to the club.
In the fallout of the loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah and Xabi Alonso’s dismissal from the helm, Madrid suffered further pain with a humiliating defeat to 17th-placed second-division side Albacete, which captain Dani Carvajal described as being “rock bottom”.
Supporters have been in a foul mood given the underwhelming performances and results, and the apparent influence of player power destabilising the team.
“I respect the opinion of the Bernabeu a lot,” Arbeloa said ahead of Madrid’s game against Levante on Saturday. “I understand Madrid fans are hurt and upset with us. But I ask for their support for the players. I ask the fans that despite the disappointment they feel, they’re on our side.”
The manager also defended his decision to leave out key players in that game against Albacete and travel with six youngsters from Real Madrid Castilla.
“The players who were available went to Albacete,” Arbeloa said. “Those who stayed behind either couldn’t play, or there was a risk of injury. They couldn’t be there, it’s not that they didn’t want to come. I decided that I didn’t want to take risks and I’d do that again.
“What happened in Albacete was a lack of a lot of things – ideas, football, fitness – and I’m the one responsible.”
Arbeloa also confirmed Kylian Mbappe “is better and will be in the squad” to face Levante after suffering fitness setbacks over the past few weeks.
