Arbeloa says Real Madrid won't 'feel lesser' than Man City even without Mbappe

[p]The French superstar did not train ahead of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/real-madrid-W8mj7MDD/?mid=fP5Co3V6"]Wednesday's last 16 first leg[/a] because of a knee sprain and cannot face Pep Guardiola's side at the Santiago Bernabeu, although Arbeloa said he is improving.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Madrid[/a] also have [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bellingham-jude/QNvlPm7s/"]Jude Bellingham[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodrygo/zPUyR5Up/"]Rodrygo[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/eder-militao/zX2Rm9YG/"]Eder Militao[/a] sidelined among other players, but the coach said the record 15-time kings of Europe had to be confident.[/p][p][b]"We are Real Madrid and I think that we never feel lesser than anyone else," [/b]Arbeloa told reporters.[/p][p][b]"It doesn't matter the circumstance, it doesn't matter who is in front of us, we are Real Madrid and we should not feel inferior to anyone.[/b][/p][p][b]"Tomorrow we have an opponent we know well, the identity of the club, coach, players, what [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] is... but we'll head into it full of hope."[/b][/p][embed guid="15b588d7-8a34-4c40-8575-82ac3472e799" url="https://x.com/realmadriden/status/2031055095186563426?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbappe-kylian/Wn6E2SED/"]Mbappe[/a] was in France last week for tests and treatment on a knee sprain, which Arbeloa said was looking better.[/p][p]"He's a lot better, as I've said a lot over the last few weeks it's something that we have to look at day by day," said the Spaniard.[/p][p][b]"All this week has been very positive, he's come back feeling good and each day he's doing better, so I hope he's back soon."[/b][/p][p]Without Mbappe, Brazilian winger [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vinicius-junior/CbwQ4Mws/"]Vinicius Junior[/a] will lead the attack for Real Madrid.[/p][p][b]"He's taking a lot of responsibility... we need the best of him if we're going to knock out Manchester City," [/b]added Arbeloa.[/p][p]Arbeloa, who took over from Xabi Alonso in January, said his first two months in the job have been a "big learning experience", and he expects Guardiola to arrive in the Spanish capital with a surprise up his sleeve.[/p][p][b]"He's always good a surprise prepared, he's a coach who in these kind of games has something different ready," [/b]said Arbeloa.[/p]