Tension grew at Real Madrid after Kylian Mbappé questioned his role in the team following a 2-0 win over Real Oviedo.
Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa strongly rejected claims made by Kylian Mbappé after the striker suggested he had been told he was the club’s “fourth-choice striker.”
Speaking after the match, Mbappé reportedly expressed frustration over his reduced role and hinted that the team had lost its structure during the season.
Arbeloa dismissed the striker’s claims during his post-match press conference.
“I wish I had four strikers,” Arbeloa said. “I don’t have four strikers, and I didn’t say that. He must have misunderstood me.”
The Real Madrid coach insisted his decision not to start Mbappé was tactical and linked to fitness concerns ahead of another match on Sunday.
“He wasn’t supposed to start today because this wasn’t a make-or-break game,” Arbeloa explained. “He’ll probably be the first-choice striker again on Sunday. I make the decisions because I’m the head coach.”
Arbeloa also defended his decision to start Gonzalo García instead of Mbappé, saying the young forward had earned the opportunity.
The coach admitted players are naturally unhappy when left out but stressed that squad selection remains his responsibility.
Mbappé also claimed Real Madrid had better structure earlier in the season. Arbeloa responded by saying the forward was “entitled to think that,” while pointing out that the French star scored more goals in the first half of the campaign.
The tension did not stop there. Mbappé and fellow forward Vinícius Júnior were both jeered by sections of supporters during the game.
Arbeloa called on fans to continue backing the players and described Mbappé and Vinícius as “two key pillars” of the team.
“We’re having another bad season, and that makes things harder,” Arbeloa admitted. “But we have a responsibility to keep fighting until the end because the fans deserve that.”
The comments come as pressure continues to build around Real Madrid ahead of the final weeks of the season.