Next Monday, Kylian Mbappé will board Real Madrid's flight to Manchester. However, this trip will not be as a spectator or accompanying staff member. The Frenchman is eager to take the field against Pep Guardiola's team, or at the very least, follow Álvaro Arbeloa's instructions to contribute to the team's goal of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for consecutive seasons.
The French captain is well aware of the significance of this match and is unwilling to stay out of the team's and his own responsibilities—just like in the Spanish Super Cup final, he is determined to fight alongside his teammates. Targeted treatment and rehabilitation training over the past three weeks have yielded positive results, with the Frenchman's left knee injury showing significant improvement. Although this does not mean the troublesome injury has completely become a thing of the past, the definite recovery progress has opened the door for his appearance at the Etihad Stadium.
The Real Madrid forward leads this season's Champions League scoring charts with 13 goals in 8 matches, ahead of Newcastle United's Gordon (10 goals), Harry Kane (8 goals), as well as Julián Álvarez, Erling Haaland, and Victor Osimhen (7 goals each). The Frenchman has completed 45 shots, 24 of which were on target. He has scored a total of 68 goals in 93 Champions League appearances, ranking sixth on the all-time scoring list, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema, and Raúl González Blanco.
Various signs indicate that he is likely to be on standby from the bench, ready to enter the game according to the situation on the field, just like in the Jeddah Spanish Super Cup match against FC Barcelona. He is eager to help and fight alongside his teammates. His feelings in recent days have been very positive, with discomfort gradually fading. Adopting a conservative treatment plan (all medical consultations oppose surgical intervention for such injuries) has proven to be the right decision.
The decision not to undergo surgery has nothing to do with the upcoming FIFA World Cup. This is a purely medical decision, and the path to recovery and freedom from injury is to implement a specialized rehabilitation program that avoids the operating table. Over the past two days, Mbappé has conveyed his strong desire to play against Manchester City to the coaching staff at the Ciudad Real Madrid (Valdebebas) training base, stating that everything is progressing smoothly. The performance of his teammates in the first leg has been a great spiritual encouragement to him and other injured players. Of course, he will not be risked unless the course of the game requires it.
