Arbeloa on Mbappé: "It's Hard to Imagine a Team Being Competitive Without the Best Player in the World"

Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa held a press conference ahead of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second-leg clash against Manchester City, scheduled for today, Tuesday, at the Etihad Stadium, kicking off at 8:00 PM GMT. During the conference, Arbeloa addressed Kylian Mbappé's return to the squad list.

Responding to a question about whether Real Madrid is better without Mbappé, he stated: "It's hard to imagine a team being competitive without the best player in the world, but this reflects how well the team is performing currently."

Regarding Mbappé's impact on the playing style, Arbeloa explained: "Kylian gives us different characteristics from other players like Brahim, but he is also a player who interacts with the team. He is a very intelligent player capable of moving into the spaces created by the opponent. I look forward to seeing him on the pitch."

Arbeloa also touched upon the topic of academy players and prominent stars, saying: "During the two months I've spent here, I haven't felt that there are untouchable players. Players like Valverde, Vinicius, and Tchouaméni have earned their playing minutes on the field, and they are not indispensable players."

He added: "What all the academy youngsters are offering is a fantastic level; they are playing very well, and that's what they excel at. They are young players with immense capabilities who contribute a lot. When players recover, I will have more options, and I hope we can always choose the eleven most suitable players on the field."

Arbeloa praised Federico Valverde, stating: "Fede can play in any position and performs really well everywhere. He is at his best, scoring goals, and enjoys freedom of movement. When Bellingham and Mbappé return, we must continue to see this version of Fede."