Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa has launched a strong defence of Kylian Mbappe after the French forward was criticised for supposedly neglecting his defensive duties in the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.
Some pundits and fans claimed Mbappe did not work hard enough off the ball as Real Madrid lost 4–3 in the second leg of their quarter final, going out 6–4 on aggregate. The Spanish side finished the match with 10 men after Eduardo Camavinga was sent off in the 86th minute.
Arbeloa rejected the criticism at his pre match press conference ahead of Real’s La Liga game against Alaves. He insisted he had nothing to reproach Mbappe for, stressing that the 25 year old star was at the top of his game, scored in both legs and worked hard in defence as well as attack.
The coach said Mbappe was a constant threat to Bayern’s backline and that he was fully satisfied with the forward’s performance despite the team’s elimination. Mbappe has scored 40 goals in all competitions this season, his second in Spain after joining Real Madrid from Paris Saint Germain to pursue his dream of winning the Champions League.
That dream will now have to wait at least another year, with former club PSG adding to his disappointment by lifting the trophy last season.
Arbeloa is also facing pressure over his own position, as Barcelona lead Real Madrid by nine points in the La Liga title race with seven matches remaining. The coach, who replaced Xabi Alonso earlier in the campaign, said his future is not in his hands but argued that the club does not need a big revolution to bounce back next season.
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