Khaberni - Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed Kylian Mbappé's readiness to participate in the match against Manchester City tonight, Tuesday, in the second leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League, while revealing the absence of Jude Bellingham.
In the press conference preceding the match, Arbeloa announced that Mbappé is completely ready for the anticipated encounter, describing him as "a very smart player capable of expertly exploiting spaces," which gives Real a significant morale boost before entering the challenging match at the "Etihad" stadium in Manchester.
In contrast, Arbeloa clarified that Bellingham will not be available for participation due to not fully recovering, but emphasized that the English player is "one of the team's leaders and will be present with his teammates to provide moral support," affirming that Real Madrid's group spirit compensates for any absences.
About the keys to qualification, Arbeloa pointed out that "humility and ambition" are the secret of the team's success at this stage, saying: "Real Madrid's emblem requires us to enter with a winning mindset only, despite the difficult atmosphere at the Etihad stadium."
Arbeloa praised the high competitive state that the players have shown recently, confirming that "commitment and sacrifice are what make up for any absences," adding: "I coach this team as if I had been in it for 15 years, and I will continue for another 15 years without any concern about my future."
Arbeloa also did not miss praising the pivotal role of the Uruguayan player Federico Valverde, who scored three goals against Manchester City in the first-leg match, describing him as "a player who delivers his best levels and can play in any position expertly," and stressing the need to continue this strong version of him even after the injured players return.
It is worth mentioning that Real Madrid had achieved a resounding victory over Manchester City with a clean three goals in the first-leg match held last Wednesday at the "Santiago Bernabeu" stadium in the Spanish capital, Madrid, which gives them a significant advantage in the second leg, where the royal team only needs to draw, or even lose by a margin of two goals, to ensure a ticket to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
