Sunday evening, Real Madrid played big. Very large. Faced with a big piece like Athletic, the Merengues had to win for two reasons: to be rebuilt in front of their audience after elimination in the Champions League, then stay in the race for the Liga following the new victory of Barça earlier in the weekend. And thanks to this goal from Fede Valverde in additional time, Real Madrid was able to reconnect with the victory (1-0) while remaining in the wheel of FC Barcelona, always 4 points in front in the Liga classification.
For this match, Spanish observers and journalists were also very attentive to what was going to happen in the stands, with the reaction of Madrid supporters after this humiliation against the Gunners. And for once, the public merengue was rather mild, and rather encouraged his men before trying to put them even more to trouble. Some were even applauded, like Fede Valverde, Dani Ceballos and … even Carlo Ancelotti.
Mbappé taken for target
But fans still wanted to settle their accounts with the big names of the team. Vinicius Jr was thus whistled at the beginning, but he quickly turned these hoots into applause with a masterclass on the ground. Others could not do it … Kylian Mbappé, who was not on the lawn Sunday after his expulsion against Alavés last weekend and who was hit in the ankle, attended the game from the stands. When the giant stadium screens showed it … He was whistled quite generously by a good part of the Santiago Bernabéu. Already whistled in front of Arsenal in the middle of the week, the Bondynois still does not convince the Madrid. “Madridido is not satisfied with Mbappé despite the 33 goals it has scored this season”summary Marca. It must be said that beyond its lack of inspiration and an ability to make differences often at half mast, Mbappé is also criticized because of a certain nonchalance and a lack of efforts on the defensive level.
If AS evoked “A rain of whistles against Mbappé” which seems to be considered as deserved and justified by most of the public opinion on the other side of the Pyrenees, the Bondynois still has certain defenders in the Spanish media, like the former player and consultant Alvaro Benito. “Good players should never be considered the problem, what you need to do with these players is to make them understand what their collective behavior should be to be a top team. We must also ask yourself why all the players of Real Madrid, except Asencio and Courtois, are below their level ”he launched on Cadena Ser. Suffice to say that Mbappé has no interest in missing during this final of Copa del Rey…
