Alvaro Arbeloa Defends Kylian Mbappé’s Performance Against Bayern Munich Amid Criticism

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa mounted a strong defence of French superstar Kylian Mbappe, who was criticised for what some perceived as ignoring his defensive responsibilities in last week’s Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich.

Arbeloa, who himself is under fire with Real all but certain to finish without a trophy this term, said Mbappe had nothing to reproach himself about and that aside from scoring in both legs of the quarter-final he had “given his all in defence”.

Real lost 4-3 in a thrilling second-leg tussle with Bayern Munich — who progressed 6-4 on aggregate — with the Spanish side reduced to 10 men after Eduardo Camavinga was sent off in the 86th minute.

Bayern scored twice after the Frenchman’s dismissal, which sparked the criticism of Mbappe.

Arbeloa, though, was having none of this at his eve-of-match press conference on Monday.

“I have nothing to reproach Kylian about,” said Arbeloa, whose side host Alaves on Tuesday.

“He was at the top of his game, he scored in both legs and was a constant threat to their defence.”

He gave his all in defence, he worked really hard.

“I was thoroughly satisfied with his performance in that match,” added the 43-year-old.

Mbappe, who has scored 40 goals in all competitions in his second season in Spain, will have to wait another year to realise “his dream” of winning the Champions League.

It was the reason why he joined Madrid from French giants Paris Saint-Germain, who promptly rubbed salt into his wounds by winning European club football’s most prized trophy last term.

Arbeloa has insisted that Real Madrid remain firmly in their Champions League quarter-final tie despite suffering a 2-1 first-leg defeat against Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The coach highlighted the resilience of his squad after a late Kylian Mbappe strike significantly improved the outlook for the second leg in Germany next week.

Mbappe provides vital lifeline

Madrid faced a deficit heading into the second leg after Bayern produced a clinical display in the Spanish capital. The visitors capitalised on defensive lapses to race to a two-goal lead courtesy of Luis Diaz and a clinical Harry Kane strike shortly after the restart.

However, the introduction of Jude Bellingham sparked a late surge, culminating in Mbappe’s 74th-minute goal that drastically altered the complexion of the knockout encounter.

Arbeloa admitted that his side struggled to establish control early on, allowing Vincent Kompany’s men too much freedom in the middle of the pitch.

He lamented the specific errors that led to both German goals but remained adamant that the tie is far from over.

Reflecting on the loss and his side’s capacity to overturn the result, Arbeloa stated: “We’re alive. We’re one goal away from levelling the tie. We’re capable of winning on any pitch, we’ve proven that. With that 0-2 deficit, which would have been very difficult to overcome, it’s a shame we didn’t convert some of the chances we had.”

We knew they were going to put players behind our midfield, but that wasn’t our plan. That gave them too much control; we didn’t want that much. If you don’t keep possession to threaten them and secure some breathing room, it’s very difficult. We improved on that in the second half….

Real Madrid’s Champions League exit will bring big change at the Bernabeu.

The Athletic reports that the Spanish giants face a summer of significant turnover following their elimination from Europe’s premier club competition.

With the Ligue 1 champions having lifted the trophy last season, the pressure mounts on Madrid to rebuild a squad capable of reclaiming continental glory.

Arbeloa’s defence of Mbappe comes amid broader scrutiny of the team’s performance and direction under his leadership.

The coach, a former Real Madrid defender, took over interim duties amid a turbulent season marked by inconsistent results and mounting frustration among supporters.

His vocal backing of the French forward underscores a commitment to maintaining morale as the club looks ahead to a pivotal offseason.

Mbappe’s contributions — particularly his goals in both legs against Bayern — remain a rare bright spot in an otherwise disappointing campaign.

As Real prepares for its final La Liga fixtures, the focus shifts to evaluating player futures and coaching stability.

The next confirmed checkpoint for Real Madrid is their upcoming La Liga match against Alaves on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

Share your thoughts on Arbeloa’s defence of Mbappe and what it means for Real Madrid’s future in the comments below.