Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé is steadily regaining full fitness ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals, according to head coach Xabi Alonso. This comes after Madrid edged past Juventus 1-0 in a tense round-of-16 clash on Tuesday.
Mbappé, who had been sidelined during the group stage due to gastroenteritis, made his long-awaited debut in the tournament as a second-half substitute. While not yet at peak form, Alonso expressed optimism about the French star’s progress.
“I think day by day he will get better, and by the time of the quarters he should be in much better shape,” Alonso told reporters. “We’ll keep checking in with him every day.”
In the absence of Mbappé, 19-year-old forward Gonzalo Garcia stepped up once again, netting the only goal of the match for his third strike of the tournament. Garcia’s performance has been one of the bright spots of Madrid’s campaign, providing crucial contributions when it mattered most.
Midfielder Federico Valverde was another standout on the night, orchestrating play from midfield and drawing praise from Alonso. “He’s a complete player,” the coach said. “His energy and leadership elevate everyone around him.”
Alonso also explained a key tactical adjustment involving Vinicius Jr., who was shifted back to the left flank in the second half. “We saw that giving him width allowed him to attack better from outside in,” he noted.
On the defensive front, Alonso lauded his team’s structure and discipline, with Real Madrid conceding only two goals in four matches so far, an indication of their growing solidity at the back.
Real Madrid will now face Borussia Dortmund in Saturday’s quarter-final, with hopes high that Mbappé will be ready to make a more significant impact.
Written By Rodney Mbua
