Mbappé K.O.: His Absence in the Cup Final Confirmed After Days of Being in Cotton Wool

One of the unknowns that Real Madrid is dealing with in the hours leading up to the Copa del Rey final, a match against FC Barcelona, is Kylian Mbappé. The Bondy striker, after getting injured in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, has missed the two LaLiga matches prior to the final. The goal of this decision was  to recover his physical form as soon as possible  to be on the field at La Cartuja.

Many took for granted that Kylian Mbappé would be part of the line-up because he would recover in time from his mild right ankle sprain. However, the information from the last few hours establishes a striking state of alarm in the Madrid locker room... because the physical condition of the '9' merengue has not improved within the parameters initially expected two weeks ago.

According to José Luis Sánchez, "Mbappé's starting position is not guaranteed" for the match against FC Barcelona at the Sevillian stadium of La Cartuja. Real Madrid has tried to push to the limit for the French striker to be part of the starting eleven planned by Carlo Ancelotti for that great Spanish soccer match. But the feelings are not good right now.

So much so that the hours leading up to the final will be really hectic around the former PSG player. Additionally, the journalist from LaSexta points out that the final decision will depend on a Carlo Ancelotti who is already really questioned, especially due to the double defeat suffered against Arsenal.

Nothing Is Decided Yet

The debate regarding Kylian Mbappé's starting position has ended. After the doubts raised by José Luis Sánchez, the forecasts have not been particularly positive: according to the information published by Radio MARCA, the '9' merengue will be absent from the starting eleven. Thus, Kylian Mbappé will be available for the Copa del Rey final but will have an impact in the third Clásico of the season coming off the bench.

The 'rest' provided for the Bondy striker during the matches against Athletic Club de Bilbao and Getafe would not have had the desired effect, because his starting position has not been possible. Kylian Mbappé had marked that match on his particular competitive calendar due to the discreet performance he has shown as a Madrid player in his first season.

Many fans of the white club expected a '9' merengue to be completely unstoppable, but Mbappé has shown considerable difficulties in adapting correctly to the capital's tactical system. Carlo Ancelotti has done everything possible to make those doubts disappear, but his performance is still below what Mbappé himself is truly capable of doing.

The Copa del Rey final, against FC Barcelona, seems like the appropriate moment to redeem himself and offer a change of face for the final stretch of the current soccer season. Now Kylian Mbappé has the opportunity to fulfill that 'promise' even though he will not do so by starting. Radio MARCA makes it clear that he has not fully recovered from the mild sprain in his right ankle suffered against Arsenal two weeks ago.