The coach told me I was the fourth forward: Kylian Mbappé clashes with Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa

Kylian Mbappé, left on the bench at the beginning of Real-Oviedo on Thursday night and booed by the Madrid public after entering the game, criticized his coach at the end of the match.

Booed on Thursday for his return to the field after three weeks of absence due to a hamstring injury, French striker Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid directly criticized his coach Alvaro Arbeloa’s decision to leave him on the bench against Oviedo when he was supposed to play.

“I feel good, 100%. I did not start because the coach told me that for him, I was the fourth forward in the squad, after Gonzalo, Vinicius, and Mastantuono,” Mbappé stated in the mixed zone after being jeered by the crowd at Santiago Bernabeu stadium after coming on in the 69th minute. “Ask him, I was ready to start, but it’s his decision. I accept it, I guess I have to work harder to be better than Vini, Mastantuono, and Gonzalo.”

His coach Alvaro Arbeloa, questioned just after in a press conference, explained that Mbappé had “misunderstood” him, and that he did not want to “take any risk” for a meaningless Liga match against Oviedo, already relegated, and when Real had nothing to play for since their loss against FC Barcelona, the champion, on Sunday.

“If, four days ago, he was not even able to be on the bench, with another match to play three days later, I think he was not ready to start tonight,” detailed the Madrid coach.

Fact Check: Mbappé faced criticism from some Real Madrid fans for his perceived individualistic attitude and accepted the Bernabeu’s boos, stating that it is part of his life as a Real Madrid player and “famous” like him. He defended his trip to Sardinia in early May while injured, saying he had permission from the club and was not the only one abroad.

Fact Check: Mbappé acknowledged the frustration over his lack of major titles at Real Madrid despite his individual brilliance, with 41 goals in 42 matches. He responded to criticism about his commitment, saying it hurts that people think he doesn’t want to play and citing contradictory opinions from earlier in the season.

In response to criticisms about his commitment, the French striker retorted: “What hurts me the most is that people think I don’t want to play. In the first part of the season, people said I played too much, in every match. Then, when I got injured, they said I didn’t want to play anymore.”