Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid’s coach, has confirmed that Kylian Mbappé is in the recovery process after suffering from gastroenteritis. The team hopes to have the star striker for the last match of the Club World Cup group stage against RB Salzburg.
Mbappé was not present in the 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in the first match of Group H, due to his hospitalization during the week.
The French player did not travel with the team to Charlotte, North Carolina, to face Pachuca in the second match, and stayed at the team’s training base in Palm Beach, Florida.
“He’s better,” Alonso declared at a press conference on Saturday. “He returned from the hospital two days ago. He is recovering and we are more optimistic every day about his return for the last match against Salzburg [on Thursday].
In the absence of Mbappé, Gonzalo García, 21 years old, was a starter in Miami and scored Real Madrid’s goal in the 34th minute. Rúben Neves equalized for Al Hilal from the penalty spot.
Real Madrid arrived at the Club World Cup seeking to recover from a disappointing season in which they failed to win any major title.
The Real Madrid and Pachuca faced each other for the last time in December in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final, with a 3-0 victory for the Spanish team. The game on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium will start at 3 p.m., with temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.“We are at the Club World Cup, we are not thinking about that,” Alonso said. “We are not in the phase of improving the squad, we are focused on this competition. I think that with what we have, we can have a dominant midfield. Obviously we have to work on it, but with different profiles, we can do it, I am convinced.
Xabi Alonso
“When we play in Europe, at least in the summer, the matches are later in the evening,” said goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. “It’s not an excuse, they want to put it on for the European market, but I don’t think it’s optimal for the players and our health. I would prefer to play at night.
Thibaut Courtois
