Álvaro Arbeloa did not hide his frustration after Real Madrid's defeat against Barcelona, which handed the league title to the Catalans. The white coach pointed to Kylian Mbappé's absence as a key factor, regretting not having had the Frenchman at 100%. Furthermore, he left it up in the air whether the forward will play again this season, sowing doubts about his immediate future at the club.
Tactical analysis: the offensive void without Mbappé ⚽
From the perspective of game development, Mbappé's absence forced Arbeloa to restructure his attack. Without the Frenchman's speed and ability to make runs off the ball, the team lost depth in quick transitions. Possession and shots on goal data reflect a notable lack of effectiveness in the final third of the pitch. The dependence on a single player to create clear chances exposed shortcomings in the tactical system, where offensive alternatives failed to compensate for the void left by the French star.
Mbappé, the man who is not there but also does not return 😅
Arbeloa talks about Mbappé as if he were a ghost in the locker room: everyone mentions him, but no one knows when he will show up. The coach cannot specify whether the Frenchman will pull on the shorts again this season, leaving the fans with more doubts than an episode of Lost. Meanwhile, the team keeps losing matches and the forward, from his living room sofa, becomes the best player in the world... at not playing.