Kylian Mbappe has dismissed speculation of a dispute with coach Alvaro Arbeloa after being left on the bench during Real Madrid CF’s league meeting with Real Oviedo.
The French forward also defended club president Florentino Perez following criticism from supporters during a tense period for the Spanish side after a season without silverware.
Mbappe had recently returned from injury but was not included in the starting line-up for the match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The atmosphere inside the stadium was strained as supporters voiced frustration after Real Madrid’s elimination from all competitions this season.
Fan anger has intensified in recent weeks, particularly after Perez publicly rejected suggestions he should resign while also criticising refereeing decisions and accusing rivals of benefiting from conspiracies against the club.
Speaking to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Mbappe denied reports of tension with Arbeloa and insisted he respected the coach’s decisions.
He said: “No, there is no problem. I will not create a crisis because of not playing. I just have to accept the coach’s ideas and work to be better than Vinicius, Mastantonu and Gonzalo.”
The striker explained that he had been informed by Arbeloa that he was currently considered the team’s fourth attacking option following his return to fitness.
Mbappe said: “I’m fine, very fine. I didn’t play because the coach told me that I’m currently his fourth striker, and I accept that and I’ll start from the bench.”
He added: “Ask the coach why I didn’t start. I was ready to play from the beginning, but it’s his decision, and I can’t be angry with him; I have to respect his opinion.”
The France international also addressed the hostile reaction from sections of supporters, saying criticism was part of life at a club of Real Madrid’s stature.
Regarding the boos aimed at him, Mbappe commented: “That’s life; we can’t change the mindset of angry people. It’s just a way for them to express their opinions, and you shouldn’t take it personally.”
He continued: “I have been booed throughout my career, and this is part of the life of any player at Real Madrid, especially if he is a famous player like me.”
Mbappe added: “We have to accept that, my friend, that’s what people think. No one will die tonight. When we don’t win, people choose some players to criticize, and that happens at every club.”
The forward also spoke about missing El Clasico fixtures, revealing his disappointment at being unavailable.
“It’s a shame not to play in El Clasico. It’s a match I love because I always score in it. It was really sad,” he said.
Questions had also been raised over Mbappe’s absence from Madrid at certain points during the campaign, but the player insisted he had received official permission from the club.
“I don’t know; the club gave me permission not to stay in Madrid, and I wasn’t the only player who wasn’t there. But these are things that must be accepted, and we must look ahead to change the situation,” he said.
Responding directly to criticism over his travels, Mbappe added: “Vacation? That’s your opinion. You don’t know what I was doing. Why do you say it’s a vacation? I only made a mistake because I didn’t help the team win titles. The rest are just opinions. Nobody knows why I left. I got permission from the club.”
Mbappe also reflected on Real Madrid’s disappointing campaign, admitting the second half of the season had fallen far below expectations.
“I think we started the season well, both in La Liga and the Champions League, but we lost everything in the second half of the season. It’s very painful because I felt we had a clear style of play and a strong structure, and then we lost that,” he said.
He added: “It’s painful to finish the season without titles, but we have to learn from our mistakes, accept the criticism, and then come back next season with great ambitions.”
The striker also praised coach Xabi Alonso, saying: “I have a great relationship with him, and I’m sure he will be a great coach, but now we have to think about the future and what can be improved.”
Mbappe reserved some of his strongest comments for Perez, offering firm backing to the Real Madrid president amid mounting criticism from supporters.
“The president is the best in the world, the best president in the history of Real Madrid. It’s difficult to see the way he is being treated now. We cannot forget everything he has done for this club, and it is an honor to work with him,” he said.
The Frenchman concluded by revealing he had struggled with a knee problem during the latter stages of the campaign.
“I will always score goals, as this is part of my personality and what I do best. But I suffered from a knee problem during the second half of the season, and it was very difficult and kept me away for an important period. What hurt me the most was that some people said that I did not want to play, but the truth is completely different.”
