Mbappé and Arbeloa exchange barbs after Real Madrid's victory

The internal crisis in Real Madrid gained a new and public chapter this Thursday (14). After the 2-0 victory over Oviedofor La Liga, or attacker Kylian Mbappé and the technician Alvaro Arbeloa they led an exchange of divergent statements in the press, which highlights the troubled moment experienced behind the scenes at the merengue club.

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Mbappé, who was left out of the last match against Barcelona, ​​started this Thursday's game on the bench and only entered the field in the 24th minute of the second half, replacing the scorer of the first goal, Gonzalo García. When leaving the field, the number 10 justified his reserve status and reported a conversation he had had with Arbeloa.

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— I'm very well, 100%. I haven't been playing because I'm the coach's fourth striker. I accept that and play as long as they give me. I assisted Jude Bellingham. You always have to be positive. I have no problem with Arbeloa. We have to respect the coach's decision. Everyone has their own ideas and philosophy. I have to work to be better than Gonzalo, Mastantuono and Vini to get playing time — began the striker. Mbappé also took the opportunity to draw a parallel between the start of the season and the team's current moment.

— We started the season well. Then we lost everything in the second half. It hurts a lot, I feel like we had a style of play, a structure, and we lost everything — said the player.

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Answer from Arbeloa

Shortly afterwards, during the post-game press conference, Álvaro Arbeloa was asked about his athlete's statements. Visibly surprised, the coach denied the version presented by Mbappé and stated that he was solely responsible for the selections.

— I would like to have four attackers. I don't have four strikers and I didn't say that. He probably didn't understand me well. I don't really know what to say, because at no point did I say he was the fourth striker — countered the coach.

— If I don't select him, he can't play. I decide. I'm the coach. I didn't want to take any risks. It was the most logical and sensible thing to do — added the coach. Regarding the Frenchman's structural criticism of the second half of the season, the Spaniard mocked the striker's phase.

— It seems good to me that he thinks that in the first part of the season the team had structure and in the second part it didn't. He certainly scored many more goals in the first than in the second — he concluded.

Boos at the Bernabéu and protests

The controversy takes place amid a hostile environment at the Bernabéu. Real Madrid had not played at home since April, and their return was marked by protests from the fans. Mbappé was one of the main targets and received loud boos when he was called into action in the second half.

— I can't change people's minds when they're angry. I don't need to take it personally. They are not happy. That's the only way to understand the boos — said the attacker.

The protests extended to other characters. Vini Jr. was booed the moment the lineups appeared on the screen, as was midfielder Tchouaméni, recently involved in a physical attack against his teammate Valverde during training. Even president Florentino Pérez was the target of fans' ire, with banners being extended and quickly removed by security guards, reflecting frustration with the second consecutive year without winning major titles and the continued scandals behind the scenes at the Spanish club.

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