Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa has responded to comments made by Kylian Mbappe regarding his status in the team. The French forward had previously stated after the match against Oviedo that the coach viewed him as the fourth-choice striker among Real Madrid's attackers.
Arbeloa rejected this claim. He emphasized that he never told Mbappe, "you are the fourth striker." The coach believes the player may have misunderstood him.
"I would love to have 4 strikers. But I don't have that many, and I never said that to Mbappe. Maybe he misunderstood me. I don't even know what to say. In any case, I wouldn't have told him 'you are the fourth striker'," said Arbeloa.
The Madrid coach explained that he made his decision based on the player's condition and the importance of the match. He noted that it would not have been the right decision to immediately put a player in the starting lineup who was not even in the squad four days ago. Arbeloa also stressed that the match against Oviedo was not a final or a do-or-die game.
According to the coach, it made no sense to risk Mbappe's health by playing him three days later. Therefore, he preferred to integrate the player into the game cautiously.
"Naturally, if I don't put him in the lineup, he cannot play. I am the head coach and I decide who plays and who doesn't. I spoke with him before the game. I don't know how he interpreted that," said Arbeloa.
The coach also touched upon Gonzalo Garcia. He said that Gonzalo performed well in the previous match and will start as the main striker in Sunday's game. This shows that Arbeloa's current selection is based on the players' preparation and their current form.
Arbeloa also stated that he has no problems with anyone in the team. He emphasized that he understands that players who are not playing will be unhappy, and it is natural for Mbappe to be upset about being on the bench. However, the main criteria for the coach are the team's interests and the player's condition.
"I have no problem with anyone. I make decisions and I understand that those who don't play will be unhappy. I can understand Mbappe being unhappy about not playing, but this decision was made based on the situation," he said.
The coach also told journalists that he does not want to comment on every sentence until he hears exactly what Mbappe said. It is clear that Arbeloa is trying not to escalate the situation further.
In short, the situation surrounding Mbappe and Arbeloa at Real Madrid currently looks like a misunderstanding. The coach says he did not call him the fourth striker, while the player interpreted it that way. Such rumors spread quickly at a big club, but for now, the best answer will be given on the pitch. For both Mbappe and Arbeloa, the most important thing is not words, but results.
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