The French striker’s technical assessment 
Press conference at Valdebebas. Coach Alvaro Arbeloa has taken stock of his squad’s European campaign. The quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich calls for an individual review. Kylian Mbappe’s output is grabbing most of the headlines. The technical staff’s verdict has been made clear in public: it’s positive.
The French international has racked up 40 goals in all competitions this season, with 15 of them coming in the Champions League. Spanish media, though, have pointed to a lack of work rate when the team lose the ball. The tactical imbalance after Eduardo Camavinga’s red card in the second leg, a 4-3 defeat, only sharpened those criticisms.
The Spanish coach has dismissed that view in public. The workload and the way he handles transition phases have been praised by the staff. His threat in attack across the two games with Bayern met Madrid’s demands.
A points deficit in the league
The European exit has badly damaged the season’s overall return. Winning a major trophy now looks unlikely. In La Liga, they trail leaders Barcelona by nine points, with only seven league games left.
Even so, the bigger picture for the first team has already been mapped out. Alvaro Arbeloa has firmly ruled out a full overhaul of the senior squad for next season. Continuity is the plan as the club look to get back to the top.
Managing the endgame
The short-term schedule is driving the manager’s message. The visit of Deportivo Alaves is the immediate priority. The maths is brutal: seven wins from the final seven matches.
The coach’s own future is still up in the air. He is refusing to say anything about whether he will still be in charge next season. That call, if it comes, will be for the Madrid hierarchy alone.
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