Real Madrid's Mbappe Faces Uncertainty: Suffers From Fever before Clash with Al Hilal
Kylian Mbappé Sidelined: Illness Strikes Real Madrid's Star Forward
Real Madrid's star forward, Kylian Mbappé, has found himself on the sidelines just a day before their Club World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal. The French sensation missed training on Tuesday due to a pesky fever.
According to the club, Mbappé had been fighting this illness for a while. Xabi Alonso, the newly-appointed manager, is set to make his debut in the match, added that Mbappé's participation would be decided in the morning of the game day.
Alonso expressed some optimism at a pre-match press conference, stating, "Kylian was a bit better today, but he's not fully fit yet, so we thought it best for him to skip training. We'll assess his condition in the morning and make a last-minute decision."
If Mbappé indeed can't play, Alonso will have to face a tricky selection dilemma as the team seems to be short on recognized center-forwards. A potential alternative, Brazilian teenager Endrick, was left out of the traveling party due to a leg muscle injury he sustained during Real's La Liga fixture against Sevilla last month.
Mbappé has been a critical factor in Real Madrid’s success this season, contributing evenly with the team's midfielders by scoring 31 La Liga goals since joining from Paris Saint-Germain.
Regardless of Mbappé's potential absence, Alonso emphasized the team's emphasis on collective pressing. "Defensive work is important," said the Spaniard, "It's one of the tasks we need to focus on, and in the long run, it will be crucial for our success."
Real Madrid entered the tournament as one of the favorites, given their substantial accomplishments in European football in the recent decade, having won 5 of the last 10 Champions League titles. Al Hilal, on the other hand, snagged their spot in the competition by winning the 2021 AFC Champions League and will be keen on exploiting any perceived weaknesses in Madrid's lineup.
The pairing of Real Madrid and Al-Hilal was thrown together in Group F, with Mexican side Pachuca and RB Salzburg of Austria.
Further Reading
- Mbappé's fever and gastroenteritis hospitalization led to a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in the Club World Cup opener[1].
- The star forward was discharged from the hospital on June 19 but remained uncertain about his return timeline[2].
- Concerns about his potential absence were raised given the typical recovery time from such illness, which lies over a week[3].
- The explainer reveals that Kylian Mbappé's illness, gastroenteritis, caused him to miss the Club World Cup opener against Al Hilal.
- Despite his illness, Mbappé's contributions to Real Madrid's success, particularly in the sports of football and the European-leagues like La Liga, cannot be overlooked, as he scored 31 goals in La Liga since joining from Paris Saint-Germain.
- Politics of selection might come into play if Mbappé is still recovering from his illness, as Real Madrid seems short on recognized center-forwards.
- In the event of Mbappé's absence, the emphasis on collective pressing, as discussed by manager Xabi Alonso, becomes even more crucial for Real Madrid's success in the Club World Cup, given the high level of competition from teams such as Al Hilal.
