Champions League: Mbappe doubtful for Madrid derby as Simeone says Ancelotti – ‘Much better than me’
Real Madrid play one of their season-defining fixtures on Wednesday when they face Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano in the UEFA Champions League Round-of-16 second leg.
With a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, the Merengues have a slight edge but the job is not done and it will not be easy as Atleti at home is a daunting challenge for any team.
On top of that, Real Madrid are now sweating over the fitness of one of their most important players – Kylian Mbappe.
Kylian Mbappe did not train with the rest of the Real Madrid squad on Tuesday.
Instead, the Frenchman trained inside the gym for the first part of the session and then did some individual work on the pitch away from the rest of the group.
This is because the 26-year-old is said to be dealing with some muscle overload, posing a concern for Real Madrid.
As such, Mbappe is set to undergo a test, although it is expected that he will be available in the squad for the game.
One of Real Madrid’s most important players, Mbappé is a key cog in the side and his absence from the starting lineup could come as a major blow for Carlo Ancelotti & co.
It remains to be seen how things develop, but for now, the former PSG superstar’s fitness seems to be a matter of worry at Valdebebas.
Elsewhere, in his pre-match press conference, Los Rojiblancos manager Diego Simeone appeared calm but confident about achieving their goal.
“Football presents different scenarios and energies within a match. We will go through difficult defensive moments and others where we will have more opportunities,” the Argentine started.
“Freshness and quality will decide the outcome. They have the advantage, and we need to find that goal to stay in the match,” he added.
Simeone made it clear that he fully trusts his players, saying: “I believe in my squad and have confidence in the team. I understand and interpret their hearts. We will go out there to keep fighting in this Champions League – our goal is to reach the final.”
The Atleti head coach also acknowledged the importance of home support but stressed that the players must perform on the pitch, as he said:
“Our fans will push us, but the reality is what happens on the field. We need to reflect the energy from the stands in our play. Just having great support will not win us the match. I know this is a huge game, and hopefully, we can show that on the pitch.”
One of the standout moments in the press conference came when Simeone was asked about Carlo Ancelotti’s earlier comments, where the Italian suggested they shared similar coaching styles.
“I spent a long time in Italy, and he was born there. Our backgrounds and experiences may lead to some similarities, but it is clear that Ancelotti is much better than me,” Simeone admitted.
