Mbappe doubtful for Real's Club World Cup opener
REAL Madrid could be without striker Kylian Mbappe for their Club World Cup opener against Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal after the Frenchman missed training due to illness.
New head coach Xabi Alonso will make his debut on the Real bench for the Group H match at Hard Rock Stadium and could be without several regulars.
Defender Antonio Rudiger and the versatile Eduardo Camavinga are also likely to miss out against the Saudi team.
'Kylian was feeling a little better this morning, but not enough. It's very hot and it was better that he didn't train. But we will wait until the last moment. Tomorrow morning we will decide,' said Alonso.
'Rudiger made a brutal effort this season and I don't know if he will be called up tomorrow, but he is progressing well and will be the first to return. Camavinga is also improving quickly, but he needs time,' he added.
Al Hilal will also have a new coach on the bench with Italian Simone Inzaghi having joined after leading Inter Milan to the Champions League final.
Alonso said the change of coach means that it is difficult to know what to expect from Wednesday's opponents.
'We have to prepare for the game in the best possible way. They will be a tough opponent, without a doubt. But it's time to focus on ourselves. They haven't made their debut with Inzaghi yet, so we don't know how they will play.
'We have to have hunger to win, to compete, to want to play well. We have to mix a lot of things, but that self-love, that feeling of team, that defending the badge... The team already has it, but we have to work on it. We must be a team,' he said.
Alonso was asked about the right-back position where Dani Carvajal faces competition from new arrival Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has joined from Liverpool.
'It is a privilege to have such top players. Trent is more flexible in positions, but Carva has a lot of personality and competitiveness. The initial impact of Trent has been very good.'
Alonso was quizzed for his opinions on several players and unsurprisingly was upbeat about his squad, suggesting that England's Jude Bellingham may be more effective in a central midfield role than in the more advanced position he has sometimes operated in.
'Jude has the ability to cover a lot of the pitch. He has the soul of a midfielder, he likes to participate, but he has the great quality to arrive. The important thing is the starting point. Finding him in the right places is going to help us because he has impressive qualities,' he said.
Alonso will get a brief spell to enjoy working with Croatian midfielder Luka Modric before the 39-year-old leaves the club.
'It's easy with him. We always had a great relationship, friends and now coach-player. I like his relationship with the younger ones, he is a very good influence. We want to enjoy him in these weeks. He's a player of the era, being able to squeeze him a little more will be a luxury,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sinar Daily
an hour ago
- Sinar Daily
Bernardo Silva set to captain Manchester City after deciding to stay
The Portugal midfielder is entering the final year of his contract and has been linked with a move this summer after eight seasons at the Etihad Stadium. 18 Jun 2025 02:36pm Manchester City's Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva speaks to the media at the Lincoln Financial Field stadium in Philadelphia on June 17, 2025 on the eve of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group G football match between England's Manchester City and Morocco's Wydad AC. Photo by AFP Manchester City's Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva speaks to the media at the Lincoln Financial Field stadium in Philadelphia on June 17, 2025 on the eve of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group G football match between England's Manchester City and Morocco's Wydad AC. Photo by AFP PHILADELPHIA - Bernardo Silva has confirmed he will stay at Manchester City for the coming season - and he looks set to wear the captain's armband, PA Media/dpa reported. The Portugal midfielder is entering the final year of his contract and has been linked with a move this summer after eight seasons at the Etihad Stadium. Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal were reportedly among the clubs interested in the 30-year-old but he has decided to reject any overtures to remain with City. His reward could be an enhanced senior role, with manager Pep Guardiola revealing Silva will be one of his four-strong captaincy group for the 2025-26 campaign. Silva said: "This season will for sure be with Man City. I'm going to stay. "I've had options in the past and this year but, like last year, this year my option is to stay at Man City." Silva, speaking in Philadelphia ahead of City's opening match of the Club World Cup against Wydad Casablanca, would not say if it would be his final season in Manchester or not. He said: "I know what I'm going to do but it's not the time to talk about that. I'm very focused on my season and performing well for Man City. When the time is due I will talk about it." Guardiola has broken with his own protocols to name his group of on-field leaders himself this summer. The Catalan has previously allowed the squad and backroom staff to vote for their own captains but, after an underwhelming past season, he has taken control of the situation himself. Silva, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Erling Haaland were the four players named publicly by Guardiola on Tuesday. Silva received the most glowing report, suggesting that when fit and selected, it will be the former Monaco playmaker who leads out the team. "I'm the manager and this season, for the first time in my career, I decided who is to be my captain," said Guardiola. "I didn't like what happened last season and I decided this season who represents the team. Sometimes I want to be the boss! "I think Bernardo had been an incredible figure for us. Eight years here, no injures, always in the bad moments he makes a step up, sets the example on the pitch. "Ruben it is not necessary to say. He has been (the same as Silva), and Rodri at the same time." Those three players all featured in the leadership group last season, along with Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne, but the elevation of 24-year-old Haaland is new. The prolific striker signed a 10-year contract in January and, after plundering 121 goals in 142 City appearances, is ready for the step up. Guardiola said: "He has to start to learn what does it mean to be a captain because he will be here, hopefully for many, many years. "Sooner or later he will take that position as the first one. I took (the decision) because he's incredibly respected. He's an important figure for us." - BERNAMA More Like This
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Ulsan vs Mamelodi Sundowns Club World Cup clash delayed by weather
THE kick-off in the Club World Cup clash between South Korea's Ulsan HD and South African team Mamelodi Sundowns was delayed because of a weather warning on Tuesday. The Group F game was due to start at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando at 6:00 pm local time (2200 GMT), and both teams had walked out onto the field before being told to retreat by the referee. Stands at the 25,500-seater stadium were virtually empty just before the scheduled kick-off time, with clouds in the sky above the stadium but no storm having begun. Tournament broadcasters DAZN reported the game was instead likely to begin at 7:00 pm local time.
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Pan Gon's Ulsan fall in Club World Cup opener
ORLANDO (United States): Kim Pan Gon, who quit his post as Malaysia's national coach abruptly last year, saw his new team, Ulsan HD, lose 1-0 to African side Mamelodi Sundowns in a Club World Cup Group F opener on Tuesday. Last year, Pan Gon told the FA of Malaysia (FAM) that he had to break his contract (with 17 months remaining) and return to South Korea due to "family issues". FAM granted Pan Gon an early release on compassionate grounds, but was shocked to know later that he had joined Korean club, Ulsan, as their coach. Meanwhile Reuters reported that Ulsan and Sundowns had targeted their opening match as their best chance to get a win in the Club World Cup with Brazil's Fluminense and Germany's Borussia Dortmund expected to advance from Group F. African and Asian teams are not expected to make much of an impact at the 32-team Club World Cup, so points are like gold dust for the likes of Ulsan and Sundowns. Pan Gon said: "We had targeted this game to win because we understand the other two teams in the group, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, are favourites. "Our players gave their best efforts in this game and we're very proud of their efforts. Now we need to recover quickly for the next game." Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said: "We prepared tactically and strategically very well. It was important that we could keep the pace and not stray from the game plan in the second half."
