As we prepare to welcome Manchester City to the Santiago Bernabéu for the first leg of our last-16 tie this Wednesday, the narrative in the media is predictable. They point to our grueling injury list and our recent domestic hiccups as reasons to count us out.
But our new manager, Alvaro Arbeloa, has a clear message for the doubters and for us fans: Real Madrid are never underdogs.
Taking the reins in January, Arbeloa knows exactly what the badge demands. Speaking to the press ahead of the heavyweight showdown, he brushed off any suggestions of an inferiority complex against Pep Guardiola’s side.
“It is going to be a tough game against a great team, great players, and an amazing coach,” Arbeloa acknowledged. “But we are not underdogs. That is what we think. We are Real Madrid. The situation doesn’t matter. We don’t need to feel inferior to any team.”
The Injury Crisis: A True Test of the Squad
There is no sugarcoating the injury situation. Our medical room is overflowing with crucial absentees. Top scorer Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Dani Ceballos, Alvaro Carreras, David Alaba, and Eder Militao are all sidelined.
However, Arbeloa did offer a glimmer of hope regarding our French superstar. While Mbappe’s knee injury keeps him out of the Bernabéu leg, there is growing optimism that he could be ready for the return fixture in Manchester next week.
“He is recovering quite well,” Arbeloa updated. “We have to see day after day about his recovery, but he is back with great spirit and we hope to get him back as soon as possible.”
In a rare piece of good news on the health front, midfield dynamo Eduardo Camavinga has fully recovered from a virus and will be available to anchor the center of the park.
Vini Jr: Time to Lead the Line
With so much firepower missing, the spotlight inevitably turns to Vinicius Junior. He has carried the attacking burden before, and Arbeloa knows Vini will be the undeniable difference-maker under the Bernabéu lights.
“If Vini is on the pitch, he is going to be key for us. With Vini having so much responsibility, it is normal he is our leader in attack. We need the best of him to beat Manchester City,” the boss stated.
A Chance for Redemption
We all remember what happened last December during the league phase. City walked away from our sacred ground with a 2-1 victory under then-manager Xabi Alonso. We’ve faced the English champions 15 times since 2012, and this rivalry has quickly become the defining European fixture of the modern era.
While our LaLiga form has been shaky—trailing Barcelona by four points despite Fede Valverde’s late heroics against Celta Vigo—the Champions League is where this club comes alive.
