Kylian Mbappé arrived at Real Madrid to shine in decisive moments, and that is exactly what the Spanish club expects in the Champions League clash against the powerful Bayern Munich. This assurance comes from Álvaro Arbeloa, former player and current coach of Real, who did not hold back in praising the French forward, emphasizing his importance for the Merengues in these high-stakes matches.
Mbappé, the top scorer for the Madrid side this season, has recently recovered from a knee injury that kept him out of the games against Manchester City, but Arbeloa confirmed that the forward will be fit to line up alongside Vinicius Júnior in the attack at Santiago Bernabéu. “It is a pleasure to have this kind of problem, being able to count on elite players like Kylian, who came to Real Madrid precisely for matches like tomorrow’s and for decisive phases like this,” the coach stated at a press conference.
The realistic coach emphasized the total confidence he has in his players, also highlighting the return to form of Jude Bellingham, another key pillar of the squad who has been recovering from injury. “Against City, Thiago Pitarch and Brahim Díaz played an important role, but to face Bayern we need something different, and Mbappé has unique characteristics that allow us to play in another way,” Arbeloa explained, showcasing the wealth of options at his disposal.
“Having a player like Mbappé is an extraordinary stroke of luck. I don’t know if there is a coach in the world who wouldn’t want someone like that on their team. I think about the defenders of the opponents who have to deal with Mbappé, Vinicius, Valverde, Bellingham… they are some of the best players on the planet,” the coach added, making it clear the impact the Frenchman can have in this tie.
Vinicius Júnior, the Brazilian star who has been visibly growing, also spoke about the chemistry he shares with Mbappé, dispelling doubts circulating about the French forward’s adaptation to Real Madrid’s system. “We talk a lot about that… Kylian is here to help us, he always gives us confidence and scores goals when we need them. Tomorrow, we will be connected, especially with the fans and all the players,” said the winger, highlighting the strong bond he maintains with Mbappé both on and off the pitch.
Despite the recent defeat against Mallorca in the Spanish league, Vinicius promised that the team will be at its best to face Bayern. “There are days when we are more or less connected, and that happened against Mallorca. We came back from the international break, and as the coach said, if we are not at 200%, we are not going to win. I hope that tomorrow we are at 200%, because it is an important day for us,” emphasized the Brazilian.
Vinicius did not shy away from addressing a sensitive topic that has been prominent in football: racism. Referring to the Islamophobic chants that marked the friendly match between Spain and Egypt, and the criticism aimed at young Barcelona talent Lamine Yamal, the Real Madrid winger emphasized the importance of combating this scourge. “It is important for Lamine to speak out; this can help people. I myself have been a victim of racism, and while I deny that Spain, Germany, or Portugal are racist countries, there are racists everywhere, including in Brazil,” warned Vinicius, who has been an active voice in the fight against racism in football.
“If we continue this fight together, I believe that in the future new players will not have to suffer these things, nor will people in general,” he concluded, calling for unity against prejudice.
With Mbappé back, Vinicius in form, and the team regaining focus, Real Madrid is preparing for an epic clash against Bayern, hoping to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League. The anticipation is high at the Santiago Bernabéu, where the merengues want to demonstrate that they are ready to shine on the big days, just as Álvaro Arbeloa predicted.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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