Federico Valverde on Kylian Mbappé and the Clásico Supercopa Final
As the anticipation builds for the Clásico Supercopa final, Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde has made it clear that he won’t be offering any advice to his teammate Kylian Mbappé on how to navigate Barcelona’s notorious offside trap. The final, set to take place on Sunday, promises to be a thrilling encounter, and fans can stream LIVE on ESPN+.
Reflecting on their last meeting in October, where Mbappé found himself caught offside a career-high eight times, Valverde emphasized that overcoming Barcelona’s high defensive line is a team effort. In that match, Barcelona emerged victorious with a convincing 4-0 win at the Santiago Bernabéu, a result that Real Madrid will be eager to avenge.
During a news conference on Saturday in Jeddah, Valverde spoke about the collective responsibility of the team in breaking down Barcelona’s defense. “I can’t give any lessons to a player [Mbappé] who’s won a World Cup and played in another World Cup final, who’s won everything in France,” Valverde said. “He’s a legend, one of the best in the world, and he knows what to do.”
Valverde continued, “What Barça are doing, they’re doing well, with their high line. But we have to be prepared. Above all, for the midfielders and the defenders, we have to be more worried about playing the right pass to play the forwards in on goal.”
Barcelona’s Boost with Dani Olmo
Barcelona’s hopes for the Supercopa have been given a lift with the decision by Spain’s sports ministry, the CSD, to allow Dani Olmo to be temporarily re-registered with LaLiga. This move comes as the body examines Barcelona’s appeal against the league’s refusal to sanction Olmo’s registration for the second half of the season.
When asked about this development, Valverde chose to remain neutral. “I won’t give my opinion on what doesn’t concern me,” he said. “But putting myself in [Olmo’s] situation, it’s tough. A player always wants to play. It’s hard, training, not knowing if you’ll be able to play football, with that passion which most players have. It must be tough. But the important thing is training, preparing well. It isn’t nice for a player to go through that.”
Madrid’s Semifinal Victory and On-Field Tensions
Real Madrid’s journey to the final was marked by a 3-0 victory over Mallorca in the Supercopa semifinal. However, the match was not without its controversies. Tensions flared at the final whistle, with Madrid’s players expressing their anger over full-back Pablo Maffeo‘s targeting of Vinícius Júnior during the game.
Valverde downplayed the incident, attributing it to the emotions of the game. “I think they’re things that happen in football, things that can happen,” he said. “When you lose you’re angry, and when you win, you’re euphoric. They’re situations, after 90 minutes of running back and forth, you can say the first thing that comes into your head. They’re football things, and it stops there.”
Key Points to Watch in the Final
- Can Real Madrid find a way to break Barcelona’s high defensive line?
- Will Kylian Mbappé overcome his previous struggles against Barcelona?
- How will Dani Olmo’s temporary registration impact Barcelona’s strategy?
- Will the tensions from the semifinal affect Madrid’s performance in the final?
As the Clásico Supercopa final approaches, all eyes will be on these key players and strategies. With both teams eager to claim victory, fans are in for an exciting showdown.
Originally Written by: Alex Kirkland,Rodrigo Faez
