Kylian Mbappe feels overwhelmed by the demanding schedule. |
Real Madrid will be without 16 players during the March international break, creating considerable pressure as they face fierce competition in all competitions.
“I’m exhausted,” exclaimed Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe after their 2-1 victory over Villarreal last weekend. This statement came after “Los Blancos” had to play continuously with only 72 hours of rest between matches, from the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 European derby at the Metropolitano to their away game at La Cerámica. The current season is becoming a marathon for Madrid, as they could play up to 72 matches, especially with the FIFA Club World Cup about to take place in the US this summer.
International call-ups always bring anxiety to clubs, and this March is no exception for Real Madrid. The Spanish giants will have to part ways with 16 players for international duty. Notably, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois returns to the Belgian national team after a conflict with former coach Domenico Tedesco. Young talent Endrick has also been called up to the Brazilian national team to replace the injured Neymar. Kylian Mbappe returns to the French national team after a period of absence, and Raul Asencio receives his first call-up to the Spanish national team.
In this context, coach Ancelotti will only have 7 truly healthy players left at Valdebebas to continue his preparations. Furthermore, the Italian coach is also worried that key players such as Fede Valverde, Luka Modric, and Arda Güler could all face the risk of injury in international matches. Valverde, in particular, is showing signs of fatigue with over 4,000 minutes played this season and will continue to play for Uruguay, despite suffering some minor pain after the match against Villarreal.
With a packed schedule and significant squad shortages, Real Madrid will face challenging final months of the season. They are still fiercely competing in La Liga, progressing deep into the Champions League with Arsenal as their next opponent, and are on the verge of reaching the Copa del Rey final after a 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad.
However, one thing is certain: the absence of many key players during this international break will be a major challenge for Ancelotti and his team. Throughout this period, Real Madrid can only hope for a miraculous recovery from the players and pray that the "FIFA virus" doesn't continue to rob the team of its strength, as the post-international break schedule will leave them with no time to rest.
Source: https://znews.vn/real-madrid-cang-nao-doi-mat-virus-fifa-post1538990.html







