Álvaro Arbeloa did not hide his frustration after Real Madrid's defeat against Barcelona, which handed the league title to the culés. The white coach pointed to Kylian Mbappé's absence as a key factor, lamenting 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 a game development perspective, 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 reliance 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 precisely say whether the Frenchman will put on his shorts again this season, leaving fans with more questions than an episode of Lost. Meanwhile, the team keeps losing matches and the forward, from the comfort of his couch, becomes the best player in the world... at not playing.