Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has praised superstar striker Kylian Mbappe, stating he is “better” ahead of the Club World Cup quarter-final matchup against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, although he stopped short of confirming whether the French international would be in the starting XI.
Mbappe missed all three group-stage matches due to a stomach issue but made a comeback as a substitute in the narrow 1-0 victory over Juventus that secured Madrid’s place in the last eight.
Emerging talent Gonzalo Garcia has been leading the attack for Madrid throughout the tournament and has found the net three times during their campaign in the United States.
“He’s better now, he’s been recovering, and we’ll make a decision tomorrow morning regarding his starting position,” Alonso informed reporters on Friday, emphasising that 21-year-old Gonzalo might still retain his spot in the squad.
“They can play together, depending on the moment and what’s required. They complement each other well, and if the situation calls for it, I wouldn’t rule that out at all,” Alonso continued.
The Spanish coach expressed that he preferred his players to be informed first about the match strategy before sharing details publicly regarding the encounter at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
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Brazilian winger Rodrygo has found limited involvement in Alonso’s plans during the tournament, and when he has appeared, his contributions have been minimal.
“I spoke to him yesterday, and he has a positive mindset. He’s ready and willing to step up when needed,” Alonso mentioned.
A player who has caught Alonso’s eye is 20-year-old midfielder Arda Guler, who had limited opportunities last season under Carlo Ancelotti.
“This is the time to invest in Arda’s development. We will encourage him to grow and mature, but we must also accept that he may make mistakes,” the coach added.
Saturday’s match will be a repeat of the 2024 UEFA Champions League final, in which Madrid triumphed over Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley.
While Dortmund may not have fond memories of that encounter, they come into this fixture with a wealth of knowledge about Real’s new coach, having faced Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen several times in recent years.
Kovac: ‘We Believe’
“You can see a lot of Bayer Leverkusen in Real Madrid at the moment because he is implementing his style of play,” remarked Dortmund manager Niko Kovac, as the Spanish side has utilised a back three throughout the tournament.
“They’re employing a similar formation, but the quality of their players is much higher compared to Leverkusen.
“You can’t change everything in three weeks; it requires time, but we’ve seen some very promising improvements. It will be interesting, and I hope we can compete effectively.“
Dortmund is returning to MetLife Stadium, just outside New York City, where they kicked off their Club World Cup journey with a 0-0 stalemate against Fluminense.
They now aim to replicate the success of the Brazilians, who advanced to the semi-finals after a 2-1 victory over Al-Hilal on Friday.
“When we commenced the tournament, we were uncertain about how it would go,” confessed Kovac, whose team arrived in the United States following a fourth-place finish in the German Bundesliga.
They have only suffered one defeat in their last 14 encounters since mid-March, that loss coming against Barcelona in the Champions League.
“We are very pleased because this is a fantastic tournament, and as we progress, we can feel the passion and intensity building.
“We faced Fluminense, who have now advanced to the semi-finals, and some laughed when I said they were a formidable team.
“Now, we wish to remain here, and we hope and believe we can move on to the next round.“
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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