What's up with Kylian Mbappé at Real Madrid?
The French forward has endured a difficult first few months at the Santiago Bernabéu, but there were signs of improvement on Sunday
He arrived as Real Madrid’s latest superstar signing. Kylian Mbappé finally joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer following a transfer sage which had dragged on for years, was presented in front of 80,000 fans in a special event at the Santiago Bernabéu and after scoring on his debut in the UEFA Super Cup, vowed to reach 50 goals in his debut season. So far, though, the French forward has been a big disappointment.
Mbappé’s malaise hit a low point in midweek as the 25-year-old missed a penalty in Real Madrid’s 2-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield in yet another off-colour display and this latest loss in Europe leaves Los Blancos – 15-time European champions – in genuine danger of crashing out in the league phase of the Champions League in a new format which has in theory made things even easier for the continent’s biggest clubs.
At home to Getafe in LaLiga on Sunday, Madrid won another penalty in the first half and this time, Mbappé didn’t take it. With the television cameras zoomed in on the French forward to capture his expression, Jude Bellingham stepped up instead – and scored.
But Mbappé’s moment would come. Eight minutes after Madrid’s opener, Bellingham slid a low pass through the Getafe defence and the former PSG attacker cut inside Juan Iglesias from the left and curled a low right-footed drive in off the post from outside the area. It was an instinctive run and finish, one he has produced numerous times over the years. A special strike.
The French forward did not have to think and perhaps that had helped. Because when he did, things did not quite come off. Mbappé had looked low on confidence running with the ball, perhaps understandably given his recent struggles. But the goal gave him air and he should have gone on to score a couple more.
Early in the second half, he scooped a lovely ball over the Getafe defence to set up a chance for Brahim Díaz, which was lifted onto the roof of the net by the Morocco attacker. Later, in a move reminiscent of Raúl’s Champions League final goal against Valencia in 2000, Mbappé raced onto a Brahim pass and rounded goalkeeper Davd Soria – only to drag his shot back across goal and inches wide.
There were two more chances after that. First, at full stretch, Mbappé was denied by Soria in a one-on-one chance after hitting a low shot at the goalkeeper’s feet; later, the Frenchman advanced into the area on an impressive run, slid a ball through for substitute Arda Güler and got it back, but screwed a shot wide of the target.
Madrid’s fans, still somewhat divided on Mbappé after his decision to snub Los Blancos at the last minute and extend his stay at PSG in the summer of 2022, were behind the French forward throughout. The supporters sang his name in the first half in an attempt to give their player a lift and they were rewarded with one of his finest performances yet in a Madrid shirt – even if it yielded only one goal.
That goal took Mbappé into double figures as a Madrid player and 10 goals in 21 games is a reasonable return so far, albeit a long way from the ratio he would need to match Cristiano Ronaldo’s average of 50 per season at Real.
“He played really well,” coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the match. “He was dangerous, as always, and he scored an important goal. He created chances and was very active. It’s what we want from him. He scored a spectacular goal, with a fantastic execution. He played a very good game.”
On the support for the Frenchman from the Bernabéu crowd, the Italian added: “The fans understand more than anybody the moment of the team and the players. Mbappé could have done better against Liverpool and they supported him, as is fair.”
Ancelotti also revealed that, in the absence of Vinícius Júnior through injury, it was down to Mbappé and Bellingham to decide between them which one took the penalty. And they had opted for Jude.
Vinícius was on the pitch before kick-off to accept his award for LaLiga Player of the Month for November. The Brazilian’s absence allows Mbappé to feature in his preferred position on the left flank and he looked comfortable against Getafe.
He will be expected to adapt in a central role when Vinícius returns in a few weeks and while encouraging, Sunday’s showing needs to be replicated against better teams and on bigger nights.
Physically, he can still improve as well, but it is a lack of confidence in recent weeks which has perhaps been the biggest concern. Affected by the pressure of his move to Madrid, a legal battle with PSG over unpaid wages, allegations from Sweden over an alleged rape in a recent trip to Stockholm which he strenuously denies and a surprise omission from France’s squad in early November, it is fair to say Mbappé has had a lot going on of late.
But claims that he is Madrid’s worst-ever signing or a flop are both premature and ridiculous. At 25 years old, he has time on his side and no season should be judged in December. Even Zinédine Zidane struggled in his first six months as a Madrid player – and he left as a club legend five years later.
Interesting read, Ben! I've written on the subject of Mbappe and his struggles a lot myself and I find your point about him not thinking very interesting. We've seen it many times before but I felt from the very start of the season, the anticipation of doing well was so high that he was just trying too hard instead of trusting his game. Now that it's been a few months it hasn't been as successful as any of us thought, his confidence has taken a huge hit. I think Ancelotti will eventually figure out how to help him and Mbappe will do well. I just hope it's not too late in the season by the time it finally happens.
This was an interesting piece. With everything going on behind the scenes and the weight of a Real Madrid jersey, it’s easy to see why he is struggling at the moment. I do believe he needs to adapt to the no.9 role because Madrid are at their best when Vini is in full flow off the left and he shouldn’t have to make way for Mbappe. However I have hope that Mbappe would come through for Madrid, that level of talent can’t go to waste.