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Asked about it in the preview of the Champions League match between Manchester City and Real Madrid, Antonio R\u00fcdiger <\/strong>has entered fully into the controversy over the action he took part in in the League match against Getafe with Diego Rico<\/strong>whom he hit with a knee in the face. The German defender has criticized his rival’s statements and has accused him of “exaggerating” <\/strong>and seek prominence.<\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>R\u00fcdiger about his knee to Diego Rico in the Real Madrid \u2013 Getafe of the League.<\/p>\n 🗣️\u201cIf I had given him purpose, he wouldn’t get up\u201d<\/p>\n 📺”Studio Stadium. The debate’, this Monday starting at 10:45 p.m. on Teledeporte and @rtveplay<\/a>. pic.twitter.com\/32ZXLAL7NJ<\/a>\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n \u2014 Teledeporte (@teledeporte) March 16, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n “When I have seen the images in slow motion it is terrible (…), but I didn’t kill him, I don’t think there’s any need to exaggerate. <\/strong>because if I go on purpose he won’t get up,” R\u00fcdiger declared this Monday, when asked about the play two weeks ago at the press conference prior to the Champions League match in Manchester.<\/p>\n The Madrid central defender was responding to the statements that Diego Rico made to the Cope network after the game, when he assured that R\u00fcdiger went “on purpose” to “bust” his face and that, if it had been the other way around, he would have been sent off and would have received a ten-game suspension.<\/p>\n “I know that I came in hard, we talked about it after the game, but by freezing an image you can’t see everything. It was never my intention to hurt him. I like to be tough, but I have limits that I don’t cross,” explained the defender, who considered that his rival “exaggerated.” “It’s like he needs to be the star,” he added in his tirade against Rico. <\/p>\n And R\u00fcdiger has not stopped there. After having been the one who used the verb “kill” in his explanations about the incident, has requested verbal restraint<\/strong>: “You have to be careful with the words you say with what is happening in the world.”<\/p>\n On the other hand, on the eve of the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against City (with a 3-0 lead from the first leg), the German has said that it is “a pleasure” to face again a player of such class as Erling Haaland. “I like physical battles<\/strong>. I need it,” said R\u00fcdiger.<\/p>\n Minutes later in the same press room, \u00c1lvaro Arbeloa acknowledged that Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 has already recovered from a sprained knee <\/strong>that he was suffering and is “available” to play against Manchester City, but did not reveal his intentions or the minutes he will give to the French forward. “Mbapp\u00e9 is now available, tomorrow you will see,” he responded about Kylian’s possible ownership or the minutes he will receive in the game.<\/p>\n “It is difficult to think that without the best player in the world a team can be more competitive, but that speaks very well of the Real Madrid squad, the effort of many of its players, their level and quality. I am happy that without having the best, people speak very well about how the team is,” he said.<\/p>\n The Mbapp\u00e9’s return changes tactical aspects<\/strong> that Arbeloa has exploited in recent games, but he highlighted the good general level of a large part of his squad and left a resounding phrase when asked if there are untouchables now that several youngsters from the reserve team have been called up for the first team.<\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Arbeloa: “There are no sacred cows… or yes, because they earn it”<\/p>\n The Real Madrid coach values \u200b\u200bthe contribution to the team of both the youth players and Vinicius, Valverde and Tchouam\u00e9ni<\/p>\n 📺 The Champions League preview, at Estudio Estadio El Debate, at 10:45 p.m. on Teledeporte pic.twitter.com\/n0y7Jb2cGr<\/a>\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n \u2014 Teledeporte (@teledeporte) March 16, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n “There are no sacred cows… or yes, because they earn it,” concluded the coach valuing the contribution to the team of both the youth players and names like Vinicius, Valverde or Tchouam\u00e9ni.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
Arbeloa keeps the Mbapp\u00e9 letter<\/h2>\n
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