Mbappé returns against Juventus and Xabi has a big question, 3 players affected

Real Madrid has notably improved its results in the Club World Cup as the days have gone by. After the unexpected and disappointing draw against Al-Hilal in the first match, the players soon adopted Xabi Alonso's principles as their own. The change is more than striking.

Not only because of the effectiveness that Real Madrid now seems to have in front of goal, but also because of other changes in the team's play style that are markedly different. The alterations made by the Tolosa coach in previous match plans, even incorporating schemes created from scratch, are working perfectly.

One of the players who has been absent from these first three matches of the "new" Real Madrid is Kylian Mbappé. Everything seemed ready for the white "9" to be the big star with Xabi Alonso, but an unforeseen illness kept him away from the team... to the point of forcing him to be hospitalized for a couple of days in a Florida hospital.

With that episode of acute gastroenteritis finally overcome, the Bondy forward has focused on regaining the lost muscle mass and restoring the energy that has characterized him. It is not an easy process in that sense, although it is full of good news: Mbappé is fully integrated into the white team's sporting discipline.

Even more difficult

His inclusion in training with the rest of his teammates fills the coaching staff with optimism, since they will finally be able to count on his services. However, behind that good news, a debate arises that would change the trends seen so far: there is not enough room for everyone in the attack now that Kylian Mbappé is back.

Real Madrid's attack has been formed by two players with very different profiles: Gonzalo García and Vinícius have shown themselves to be a truly effective duo in front of the opposing goal. With Kylian Mbappé back in the first team, everything suggests that the youth player trained at La Fábrica would return to the bench. However, Xabi Alonso holds the Spanish forward in very high regard, a homegrown product, and could spring a surprise by keeping him in his next starting eleven.

If Gonzalo García can share the front line with Kylian Mbappé in Real Madrid's attack, the two players who would be affected are Vinícius and Rodrygo Goes. Especially the green-and-yellow "11", who would see his chances of accumulating minutes during the Club World Cup knockout rounds further reduced.

Sending Vinícius to the bench due to Kylian Mbappé's arrival, while keeping Gonzalo García in the starting line-up, would be a real statement of intent. While it is unlikely to happen, given that the Brazilian "7" is a regular starter for the white team, it is a possibility that Xabi Alonso would not rule out. At least for now, while the Tolosa coach "experiments" with the footballers he has at his disposal.