Mbappé: Arbeloa Told Me I'm the Fourth Striker, and That's Unfortunate

French star Kylian Mbappé spoke after the 2-0 victory against Real Oviedo in the Spanish league. He stated that he did not start the match based on a decision by coach Álvaro Arbeloa, confirming that the latter informed him that he currently considers him the fourth striker of the team.

Mbappé said in the mixed zone: 'I didn't play as a starter because the coach told me that for him, I am the fourth striker in the lineup behind Gonzalo García, Franco Mastantono, and Vinicius, and I accept that. That's why I started the match on the bench. I was ready to play as a starter, but the decision is up to the coach, and I cannot be angry with him. We must respect his opinion and play the time available to me.'

When asked if there was a problem between him and Arbeloa, he replied: 'No, there is no problem, but we must accept the coach's ideas. I have to work to be better than Vinicius, Mastantono, and Gonzalo.'

Mbappé also addressed the controversy surrounding his trip to Italy during his recovery from injury, saying: 'I had permission from the club to leave Madrid, and I wasn't the only player who wasn't present, but these are things that must be accepted.'

On why he hadn't spoken to the media earlier, he said: 'I prefer to talk here directly. Many don't do that, and sometimes I have to find out what they think through the press.'

He continued about the boos: 'It's unfortunate, but it's part of life. The fans have the right to express their opinion, and it shouldn't be taken personally.'

Regarding the team's season: 'We started the season well in the league and Champions League, but we lost our idea and style of play in the second half of the season, and that's very painful, especially after going out without titles.'

About his relationship with former coach Xabi Alonso: 'I have a great relationship with him, and I think he will be a great coach, but we have to think about the future and what can be improved.'

He added: 'Florentino Pérez is the best in the world and the best in Real Madrid's history, and it's hard to see the way he is being treated. We can't forget everything he has done for the club.'

He explained: 'Was your trip to Italy a vacation? That's your opinion. No one knows what I was doing. I only made the mistake of not helping the team win titles; the rest are just opinions.'

On his physical issues this season, Mbappé clarified: 'I suffered a knee injury during the second half of the season, which affected my level and participation. I also recently suffered a somewhat bad leg injury, and it's very unfortunate for me not to be able to play El Clásico. It's a match I love to play and enjoy playing against Barcelona as I always score goals against them. So it was sad not to be there to help the team.'

Regarding the altercation between Tchouaméni and Valverde: 'I wasn't present at the altercation between Tchouaméni and Fede Valverde, and I can't confirm if anything happened because I wasn't there. I left the training ground without knowing what happened. I have the same information as you do.'

He concluded about the World Cup: 'It's an amazing opportunity for all players. There's a lot of pressure, but it's a very enjoyable experience.'