Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso says Kylian Mbappe is feeling better ahead of the Club World Cup quarter-final clash with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, though he stopped short of confirming whether the French star would make the starting eleven.
Mbappe was sidelined for Madrid’s group stage fixtures due to a stomach illness but came off the bench in their narrow 1-0 win over Juventus, which sealed their place in the last eight.
In his absence, 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia has stepped up, leading the line in all four of Madrid’s matches in the United States and scoring three times.
“He’s improving and we’ll decide tomorrow morning whether he starts,” Alonso said on Friday. He also hinted that Mbappe’s return wouldn’t necessarily mean Garcia losing his place. “They can play together. It depends on the moment and what the game requires — they complement each other well. I haven’t ruled it out.”
Alonso added that he preferred to inform his players first before making tactical decisions public.
Brazilian winger Rodrygo has struggled to find form and playing time during the tournament, but Alonso insisted the forward remains motivated.
“I spoke with him yesterday — he’s got a positive mindset and is ready to step in when called upon,” the coach explained.
Meanwhile, young Turkish midfielder Arda Guler has caught Alonso’s eye. After limited opportunities under Carlo Ancelotti last season, Guler has shown promise in recent appearances.
“It’s time to invest in Arda’s development,” said Alonso. “We’ll push him to grow and mature, knowing he’ll make mistakes along the way, and we’ll accept that.”
Saturday’s fixture at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is a rematch of the 2024 UEFA Champions League final, where Madrid defeated Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley.
Meanwhile, Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac acknowledged the challenge ahead but drew confidence from the familiarity his side has with Alonso’s coaching style, having faced his Bayer Leverkusen team several times in the Bundesliga.
“You can see Bayer Leverkusen’s DNA in this Madrid side,” Kovac said. “They’re playing the same system, but of course, with higher quality players. You can’t transform a team in three weeks, but there have already been signs of what he wants to build.”
Dortmund, who kicked off their campaign with a goalless draw against Fluminense at the same venue, are hoping to emulate the Brazilian side’s progress. Fluminense reached the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Al-Hilal on Friday.
“We didn’t know what to expect at the start, but now we’re feeling the intensity and passion this competition brings,” said Kovac. “People laughed when I said Fluminense were a top side — now they’re in the semi-finals. We want to stay here longer, and we believe we can advance.”
