What happened: Real Madrid interim boss Álvaro Arbeloa pushed back on questions over Kylian Mbappé's effort level, telling reporters: "Of course, I couldn't think otherwise." Arbeloa framed playing for the club as "a blessing" and said his players need to be aware of that privilege. The comments, relayed by Fabrizio Romano, follow a turbulent stretch of injury absences and outside criticism aimed at the French forward.

Why it matters: The remarks land as Arbeloa continues to publicly shield Mbappé from criticism, following earlier defenses of the striker's injury-period holiday trip and uncertainty over his return timeline. With Real Madrid navigating an injury crisis that has already sidelined Mbappé for major fixtures, the head coach's tone matters for dressing-room cohesion heading into the season's final stretch.

What to watch: Watch whether Mbappé features again before season's end and whether Arbeloa's messaging shifts as Real Madrid's coaching situation — including reported José Mourinho contacts — develops.