Fit-again Mbappe at Real for clashes like Bayern tie: Arbeloa

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said Kylian Mbappe joined the club to star in key matches like Tuesday’s Champions League clash against German giants Bayern Munich.

Arbeloa said Mbappe was a vital part of the team, although questions remain over whether record 15-time winners Madrid can strike the right balance with all their biggest names on the pitch at the same time.

French superstar Mbappe, the club’s top goalscorer, did not start either game in the last 16 tie against Manchester City which Madrid won impressively, because of a long struggle with a knee sprain.

Fit once more, Arbeloa indicated Mbappe was likely to feature along with Vinicius Junior in attack at the Santiago Bernabeu against Bayern in the quarter-final first leg.

“I’m delighted to have that kind of problem, to have outstanding players at my disposal and to have a player like Kylian Mbappe, who came to Real Madrid for matches like tomorrow’s and for knockout ties like this one,” Arbeloa told reporters Monday.

“I’m sure we’re going to see Kylian at his best, leading the team the way he’s always known how to do, and I have a great deal of confidence in all the players.”

England international Jude Bellingham is also finding his way back to fitness after injury and Arbeloa said he would keep betting on the squad’s stars when they are available.

Against City young midfielder Thiago Pitarch and attacking midfielder Brahim Diaz played important roles, but they may get less time on the pitch in the Bayern tie. “It’s clear Mbappe has different characteristics and conditions to those Brahim has, so we have to play in a different way, but I’m delighted to have this problem,” said Arbeloa.

Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior said he worked well together with Mbappe, despite some believing the fit is not right for Madrid.

“People talk a lot... ‘Kyli’ is here to help us, he’s always given us confidence, he scores the goals for us, we have to be connected tomorrow, above all with the fans and all the players,” he told reporters.

Kane trains with Bayern: Vincent Kompany’s Bayern visit Real high on confidence and looking like Europe’s most complete side, bolstered by the likely return of superstar striker Harry Kane.

The striker picked up an injury while on international duty with England in late March, which caused him to pull out of last Tuesday’s friendly defeat to Japan at Wembley, with coach Thomas Tuchel saying the 32-year-old was suffering just a “minor” complaint.

On Monday, however, he appeared in good spirits on Bayern’s training ground during the 15-minute session, which was open to the press.

Despite Madrid’s prestige and troupe of attacking stars, Bayern are arguably favourites to lift the trophy. “It would be presumptuous to assume that we’ll definitely advance,” said honorary Bayern president Uli Hoeness.

“But we haven’t had such great chances in terms of the playing quality as we have this year in a long time.”

Arsenal face test of character in Sporting showdown: Mikel Arteta has urged shell-shocked Arsenal to embrace a major test of their character as they seek to recover from a pair of devastating defeats in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final at Sporting Lisbon.

Arteta’s side suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at second tier Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, a fortnight after losing 2-0 to Manchester City in the League Cup final.

The Gunners had been chasing an unprecedented quadruple until their domestic cup dreams were demolished in painful fashion.

The chastening loss to Southampton was only Arsenal’s fifth defeat this season and marked the first time they have been beaten in successive games in this campaign.

Arsenal’s slump has plunged the club’s long-suffering fans into a bout of soul-searching.

The north Londoners haven’t won a trophy since the 2020 FA Cup and three consecutive runners-up finishes in the Premier League have raised doubts about their ability to finally land silverware.

Arteta is convinced Arsenal can handle the mounting pressure of bidding to win the Champions League for the first time, while aiming to finally lift the Premier League trophy after a 22-year wait.

“In the season, you always have moments, normally two or three. This is the first moment that we have with a certain level of difficulty,” Arteta said.

“We’re going to say difficulty when we’re going to play the Champions League quarter-finals and the run-up for the league.”

Agencies