MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – “It was a shame not to play in the Clásico. But that’s life. I’m fine, I didn’t play because the coach told me I was the fourth choice for striker, behind Mastantuono, Vinicius, and Garcia. I was ready to start as a starter, it’s his decision and you always have to respect it. I’m not angry.” Kylian Mbappé spoke this way after last night’s 2-0 victory against Oviedo, a victory achieved amid boos and protests from the ‘blancos’ fans. The French champion is targeting coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who, however, contradicted him in a press conference: “He must have misunderstood, I don’t know what to tell you, I didn’t tell him he’s the fourth striker.” There is at least a misunderstanding between the two, which the former Monaco and PSG player prefers not to address face-to-face: “I prefer to speak here, in my own words, so I can be clearer. My only responsibility is to play well and give everything for the shirt.” The 27-year-old striker for the French national team allows himself an analysis of the Merengues’ season: “We started the season well, then we lost everything in the second half. It hurts a lot because we had a structure and a style of play. We have to accept the criticism and come back next year.”
“We haven’t won any titles,” he continues. “It hurts because we had the opportunity to do better, and we proved it in the first part of the season. But that’s not what Real Madrid stands for. You always have to defend the club in the best way possible.” With Arbeloa, he assures, “I have no problem. You have to respect him and accept the coach’s philosophy. I have to do better to overcome the competition from Vini, Gonzalo, and Mastantuono. I don’t watch the coach’s press conferences; at home I have French television, not Spanish.” Florentino Perez considers him the best player on the team: “He’s the best president in the world and in the history of Real Madrid. We’re lucky to have him. It’s normal for the fans to be unhappy, but they shouldn’t forget everything the president has done for this club. He’s a legend, he means a lot to the fans and to the club. Ultimately, it’s an honor for us to have him, and I hope we’ll have him for as long as possible.” Despite a difficult season and the disagreements with Arbeloa, Mbappé assures us he doesn’t want to leave: “I’m very happy in Madrid, why should I leave?”.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
