Just when it seemed that the pressure of a lifelong dream of moving to Real Madrid might be too much for Kylian Mbappe to overcome, the French star silenced his doubters. After a tumultuous start to life in Madrid, Mbappe finally looks at home and ready to wreak havoc in Spain and Europe. Mbappe’s rediscovered enthusiasm comes at the perfect time for Real Madrid with two crucial Champions League matches to play, starting with Red Bull Salzburg’s visit to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Real Madrid then face Brest away next week, with the aim of ensuring progress to the next stage of the competition.
It would be unthinkable for the defending champions and a record 15-time European champions to suffer an early exit, but after a poor start, the team currently sit in 20th place in the 36-team pool, with the last 12 teams eliminated.
Real Madrid lost to Liverpool, where Mbappe missed a penalty kick, as well as to Milan at home and away to Lille.
Shortly after the defeat at Anfield, Mbappe missed another penalty kick in the defeat against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish League, and that was a turning point for the France captain.
Mbappe said in a post on the social media platform Instagram: “A big mistake occurred in a match where every detail is important. I take full responsibility for it.”
“It’s the best time to change this situation and show who I am.”
Since vowing to turn things around, Mbappe has scored eight goals in 10 matches for Madrid in all competitions, including a stunning individual effort against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.
Mbappe also scored in Real Madrid’s Intercontinental Cup win against Pachuca in December, but goals aside, he now looks every bit the part of what world-beating talent boss Florentino Pérez had hoped for.
“Moves that only he can do.”
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has been patient with Mbappe, often defending the striker and insisting he needs time to adapt to life in the Spanish capital and socialize with his new teammates.
The Italian also stuck to his position regarding Mbappe’s positioning, and has insisted since the beginning of the season that the French striker play in the middle, leaving Vinicius Junior to remain on the left side in his preferred role.
Mbappé and Vinicius had difficulty adapting, and at times occupied the same spaces on the pitch.
The team’s 4-0 Clásico loss to arch-rival Barcelona in October was a particularly disappointing moment for Mbappe, who was offside several times in the match by the Catalans’ high defensive line.
Excluded from the national team squad for Nations League matches at the time by coach Didier Deschamps and battling with former employers Paris Saint-Germain over unpaid income, Mbappe looked overwhelmed and exhausted.
Ancelotti insisted on the striker and said at the end of December that Mbappe had gone to bed and, after a thigh injury, was now ready to give his best.
The coach said: “The (adaptation) period that he clearly needed, because everyone needs it, has ended.”
“Where does Mbappe have to improve? Just in consistency… trying to make moves that only he can do, whenever possible.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ancelotti, a record five-time European Cup winner as a coach, is right.
Mbappe’s skill and pace have made him unstoppable in recent weeks, and the 26-year-old looks increasingly confident with each passing match.
Mbappe said at the end of 2024: “The Bilbao match was good for me. I reached the bottom… and it was a moment when I realized that I had to give everything for this shirt and show my personality.”
Mbappe produced his best performance for Real Madrid, scoring twice against Las Palmas on Sunday to help Real go top of La Liga.
He said after the match: “I have adapted to the team, and I can play the way I want, with my teammates, and with my personality.”
Vinicius was suspended against Las Palmas but will return in the Champions League, and he and Mbappe must continue to develop their partnership.
If Real Madrid’s dynamic duo can find the same wavelength they will be ready to defend their status as European kings.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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