Real Madrid’s squad is currently undergoing major upheaval due to injuries to two of their star players, Vinicius Junior and David Alaba. Both talents find themselves on the bench, with Vinicius dealing with a hamstring injury, while Alaba has a knee problem.
Following Real Madrid’s defeat to Bilbao, manager Carlo Ancelotti told a press conference: “Vini is recovering very well from his injury. He will not play tomorrow’s game, but he will be ready for the next Champions League game. Having Alaba back in training is a morale booster, but he still has a month to go, until December, before he is ready to play.”
Real Madrid have suffered five defeats in their last eleven games, falling four points behind Barca. Criticism has been mounting towards Ancelotti, with his performances deemed too weak by many fans. Despite his impressive record, speculation about the coach’s possible departure is growing in the world of sport.
Ancellotti has taken a positive approach to the series of setbacks, saying: “We continue to fight for every competition. We must remain optimistic, bearing in mind the problems we are going through and the ones we have encountered.”
Another major talking point is the performance of Kylian Mbappé. Having arrived at Real Madrid in the summer with high expectations, the young Frenchman has yet to fully live up to expectations. His second consecutive penalty miss in the match against Bilbao added to the pressure on his shoulders.
In a post on Instagram, Mbappé called the defeat “a bad result… a big mistake in a game where every detail counts. I take full responsibility. A difficult moment, but the best moment to change the situation and show who I am.”
Kylian Mbappé will have another opportunity to answer doubts about his performance on Saturday, when he plays against Girona. The football world is holding its breath to see how he will bounce back from this adversity.