Zubeldia, this Tuesday night, is going to face Mbappe for the first time in his career. The PSG striker is one of the best in the world and the Spanish player is aware of that.

"I've never played against him and I 'm looking forward to testing myself. His short run is beastly. In a few metres, he reaches his top speed. Maybe you have to give him more distance, not be at the same height or not go so far up the pitch knowing that, if he goes behind you, whatever you do, you won't catch him. You can also stop the game," he said in an interview with the newspaper 'El Pais'.

"Or drop back earlier than normal, when his teammate has the chance to hit the ball to put the pass in. When you're up against attackers who play out wide, more important than the assistant is the style of the rival team: if their play is direct, if they associate more, if they prefer to combine.... That depends on where you put your line: if you know they are going to hit, you don't throw the line in midfield and you regulate more. If they combine, we feel strong pressing up top," added the 26-year-old.

"I will not do anything different. I won't change. It will be just another game knowing that, in front of me, I will have one of the best or the best in the world. With respect, we know that we can do them a lot of damage too," he added. On the new dynamic of centre-backs with more touch on the ball, he said: "They are contact players. The defender has to defend and then, if he can, help in attack. Nowadays, we are asked to do both. The moves start at the back, don't they? Today, goalkeepers can't just hit balls and forget about it. We defenders also win games," concluded Zubeldia.

February 14, 2024

Igor Zubeldia

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