Arbeloa talks Mbappe, Rodrygo, Vinicius, Thiago Pitarch, Man City ahead of Real Madrid vs Getafe | OneFootball

As Real Madrid prepare to host Getafe, manager Alvaro Arbeloa faced the media to discuss his squad’s condition, the situation surrounding Kylian Mbappe and the upcoming Champions League tie against Manchester City.

Arbeloa began by focusing on the immediate task in La Liga, underlining the challenge Getafe will present at the Santiago Bernabeu. 

He stressed the importance of staying sharp despite the heavy schedule ahead. “The team is doing well and is really looking forward to it. 

“We know how tough our opponents are, with a coach who always fields his best players. 

“They are a very difficult opponent, capable of playing very tight games and pushing you back into your own half. We are really looking forward to playing at home in front of our fans.”

Kylian Mbappe’s fitness

Naturally, much of the attention turned to Mbappe and theuncertainty surrounding his fitness. Arbeloa insisted the club has clarity internally. 

Arbeloa has opened up on Mbappe’s fitness. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

“We are very clear about what is happening with him and what we want now, which is for him to recover from these niggles and come back 100% when he is fully recovered.”

When asked directly whether fans could expect Mbappe to be ready for the first leg against City, the coach remained cautious. 

“We’ll see how it goes day by day. It’s a matter of him seeing how he feels. Right now, it’s best not to set any deadlines and let him see how he feels. 

“We’ll make a decision based on that. We want him to be 100% fit, and when that happens, he’ll be back.”

Furthermore, looking ahead to facing City once again in Europe, Arbeloa acknowledged the magnitude of the contest. 

“It’s going to be an exciting match between two great clubs. It’s a tie that Madrid fans really enjoy because of the stature of the opponent. 

“When the time comes, we’ll prepare as best we can.”

On Rodrygo and others

Arbeloa talked about Rodrygo’s role. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

He also addressed tactical flexibility, particularly with players like Franco Mastantuono, Brahim Daaz and Rodrygo. 

“There’s room for everyone. This isn’t a closed system. The good thing is that with the different abilities the players have, they can do different things. 

“When you make changes, you don’t do it because someone is doing badly, but because you want other things.”

On Rodrygo specifically, Arbeloa was clear about his importance. 

“He must be very important. He can be a key, decisive player. He has been demonstrating his quality at Real Madrid for many years. 

“He can contribute in all three attacking positions. He is a very complete player and very difficult to defend against. I’m really looking forward to having him back.”

When asked about watching Barcelona, Arbeloa kept it diplomatic. 

“Whenever I can, I watch all the La Liga teams’ games. We spend most of our time on our own games and our rivals, but we all like to watch other teams’ games.”

On Vinicius and Pitarch

Vinicius has been much better under Arbeloa. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Finally, he praised Vinicius Junior and rising talent Thiago Pitarch. On Vinicius, he said: 

“I don’t know if I pressed any buttons. The credit goes to Vini, who is a fantastic player. I give him a lot of confidence and affection, and I encourage his teammates to seek him out to take advantage of his qualities. 

“He is a decisive, fundamental player. As a coach, I work to ensure that we find him in many situations on the field.”

Regarding Pitarch’s future involvement, Arbeloa explained: 

“I understand that people are surprised that he made his debut in a Champions League tie, but if he did so, it’s because I had complete confidence in him that he would do what he often does. 

“The youth players find it easier to understand what I want from them. Thiago will continue to enjoy opportunities in the first team. It’s a pleasure to have a player like him.”

Source: AS