Booed Mbappe claims to be Real's 'fourth forward'

Mbappe had started all of Real's previous six games, scoring three times, prior to his injury and has been out of the starting line-up on only four previous occasions when available for Arbeloa in the 26 matches since the head coach took over from Xabi Alonso in mid-January.

Image: Alvaro Arbeloa has had a difficult time in the dugout since replacing Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid's head coach

Arbeloa was questioned over Mbappe's comments following the game and said he felt it was not possible for the forward to come straight back into the line-up following his hamstring injury, and denied his claims of being the club's fourth-choice forward - before revealing he will start Real's next game against relegation-threatened Sevilla this Sunday.

He said: "I had a conversation with him before the game and I ​don't know what he could have interpreted.

"For ⁠me it is very clear that a player who four days ago could not be on the bench (against Barcelona), today should not start. ⁠Especially because ​it's not a final, it's not ​a game of life or death.

"I can understand that Mbappe isn't happy about not playing, but it's a decision based on the circumstances. It was the most logical and natural thing to do, the most common-sense thing.

"If you want, you can show me Kylian's mixed zone [comments] and we can discuss it. Until I hear what he said, I'm not going to comment on every single sentence. As long as I'm in this position, I decide who plays and who doesn't. I don't care what their names are."

Mbappe shrugged off the boos he receive from the infamously ruthless Real support.

"It's life," he said.

"You can't change people's minds when they're angry. I shouldn't take it personally. It's the life of a Real Madrid player, and a famous player like me. They're not happy. That's the only way to understand the whistles."

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