Alvaro Arbeloa has analyzed rather little, to say nothing, tonight’s match against the Oviedo, very marked by the atmosphere of the Bernabeu and whistles at the players, especially the stars like Vinicius or Mbappé, but above all because of the statements that Kylian had made minutes before in the mixed zone.
The coach denied the forward as soon as he sat down in the Bernabéu press room: “I have not said such a phrase to him (he was the fourth striker right now), he will not have understood it correctly. I decide who plays while I’m sitting in this chair, I don’t care if they don’t agree, whatever their name is. And if not, let them wait for the next one.” That’s how forceful the coach was.
Mbappé’s words: “I would like to have four forwards, I don’t know what to tell you because I don’t have four forwards nor have I said such a phrase to him. He won’t have understood it well, I don’t know what to tell you, I haven’t told him that he is the fourth forward.”
Mbappé: “I have been the fourth forward of the squad for the coach”
They insist on Mbappé’s phrase and his disagreement: “If I don’t put him on, he can’t play, it’s clear, I’m the coach and he decides who plays and who doesn’t. Four days ago he couldn’t even go to the bench and today wasn’t a final. He’s going to be the first striker, as I’ve told him, I don’t have any problem with anyone. I understand that those who don’t play aren’t happy and I can understand it, but it’s a decision based on the circumstances. It was the most logical and natural thing, and common sense, not to risk another game in three days.”
If you know what Mbappé said: “Until I hear everything he said, if he said the structure, it’s fine with me because he has scored more goals in the first part of the season.”
If there is distancing: “No, I said that a player who four days ago could not be on the bench, I have considered that he should not play. Gonzalo deserved the reward of playing today. As long as I am in this chair I am going to decide who plays, whatever his name is. As long as I am in that chair, I decide who plays and not. I don’t care what their names are. If it seems good to them, good, and if not, let them wait for the next one.”
If this has happened to you before: “Not only has it happened to me with Kylian, it has happened to more than you can imagine, because it has happened due to circumstances because mine has been different. I am very calm and I have a very clear conscience. I don’t care that they don’t agree with my decisions.”
The whistles to Mbappé: “I always ask for support from the players”
The whistles to Vinicius: “I’m sure they are going to do it, they are pillars of Madrid and the club is betting on them and the applause will return.”
If you think some have been ungrateful: “I don’t expect from my players what I have given for them. I know how we players are. Now I am in this chair but one never stops being a football player. I know how they feel, what they think. And more players at this level, with ambition and a big ego. I am capable of understanding everything. I wouldn’t change anything I have said or done, nor the defense of all of them.”
If the season finale is getting too long for you: “One can never suffer being at Real Madrid. It is not a situation in which anyone is comfortable because in this club we know the demands. A bad year is coming together with another season without winning titles. That makes it more difficult and everything becomes much more difficult. We have a big responsibility, we have to go to Seville to try to win and the last game against our people deserves our effort and that we give our best.”
