Real Madrid will do everything possible to help Kylian Mbappé recover from his knee injury in time for the Spanish Super Cup, manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed.
Mbappé has been battling a knee injury for several weeks and was formally diagnosed with ligament damage towards the end of December, with a recovery timeline of three weeks putting his involvement in the Super Cup in serious doubt.
After Sunday’s meeting with Real Betis, Madrid travel to Saudi Arabia for the tournament and will face Atlético Madrid in the semifinals on Jan. 8. Even a potential final appearance against either Barcelona or Athletic Club three days later would appear to come too soon for Mbappé.
Alonso, however, is not giving up hope just yet.
“We’ll keep pushing the timeline,” Alonso pledged. “It’s largely about how he feels, and we’re going to do everything possible to get him back as soon as possible. When will that be? That’s the question. I don’t know.
“I’ll give you a clearer answer at the next prematch press conference.”
Given Mbappé’s recent history with his knee—he sat out last month’s 2–1 defeat to Manchester City—Alonso rejected suggestions the Frenchman’s fitness had been poorly managed.
“No,” he hit back. “After each match, we assess the player’s performance, observe how he feels and then make decisions based on the match and the team’s needs. We’ll see how he progresses now, and we’ll do everything we can to get him back as soon as possible.”
Alonso: Club World Cup Shows Real Madrid Can Cope Without Mbappé
Alonso begins 2026 in the same way he started his tenure as Madrid manager. When he joined during the summer, he was immediately made to cope without Mbappé, who was struck down by illness during the Club World Cup.
The emergence of Gonzalo García helped Madrid in Mbappé’s absence and Alonso admitted he may take inspiration from his setup during the summer once again.
“It was a bit flexible; it’s not that we changed that much, but with the players we had ... Now we have a few more players, others who aren’t here, and we have to find the best way to fit the pieces together,” Alonso explained.
“We did perform well. Kylian wasn’t there, but we’ll definitely miss him later because his performance is impressive. Not just because of the goals, but because of his influence. But we have to live with injuries; they’re never welcome.
“I have a lot of faith in those who will start tomorrow and those who will start on Thursday against Atlético. This is a squad, and unity, mutual trust, solidity and team spirit are fundamental.”
READ THE LATEST REAL MADRID NEWS, TRANSFER RUMORS AND MORE
- Real Madrid vs. Real Betis: Preview, Predictions and Lineups
- Transfer Rumors: Liverpool Rival Man Utd for Baleba; Real Madrid Receive Fresh Rodrygo Bids
- Predicted Lineup For La Liga Clash Between Real Madrid And Real Betis
- Real Madrid Receive Crucial Injury Boost For Spanish Super Cup Charge
- Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Real Betis: Who Steps Up in Mbappe’s Absence?
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Xabi Alonso Rates Kylian Mbappe’s Chances of Super Cup Return.
