Kylian Mbappé missed the cup match against Real Sociedad last week due to pain following the extraction of a tooth. As if Samson and his hair were involved, the French player did not perform as well in the last league matches against Real Betis and in the Champions League against Atlético de Madrid. These were matches that came just at the moment when the player seemed to have rediscovered his game.
Expectations were very high. Real Madrid had been waiting seven years for the signing of Kylian Mbappé. Seven years that ended with a signing at zero cost and a presentation in style for the latest star in Madrid’s sky. However, the wait did not have an immediate reward. The Frenchman’s start to the season was very irregular, drawing all kinds of comments, but he seemed to have found his place, until now.
A step back
The player was the key to Real Madrid’s qualification for the last 16 with a hat trick against Guardiola’s Manchester City. However, he played a more than discreet role in the Santiago Bernabéu duel against Atlético de Madrid. One example was one of the last actions of the game. The Frenchman received the ball on the right wing and, when he had to decide between shooting at goal or, the option he chose, poorly executed, passing it to Vinicius. He missed a pass that the Brazilian only had to push the ball into the goal for a crucial 3-1.
Ancelotti spoke about the performance of both Mbappé and Vinicius at a press conference: “Playing against Atletico’s defense is not that easy. They worked hard, they fought, they didn’t show the quality they have, but they have the next game to do so”.
The press points the finger at Mbappé
The main international sports media claim that the Frenchman was the “discordant note” of the match against Atletico. In Italy, Tuttosport attacked Mbappé, saying that he “was the only discordant note”. The Spanish press was unanimous in its criticism of the French striker. In the AS newspaper, the tone left no room for doubt: “What a day! Mbappé went practically unnoticed. Only one shot on goal in ninety minutes and the feeling that he never caused any concern to the Atleti defense”.
MARCa questioned his attitude on the pitch: “Was there really nothing wrong with Mbappé? He suffered an alarming blackout at all levels: he was static and ill-advised in each of his actions, as if he were playing with lead in his legs.” Mundo Deportivo opined that Kylian Mbappé was not up to the task.
In his own country, L’Équipe also took the opportunity to point the finger at the player, highlighting his discreet performance: “A match in which Kylian Mbappé passed with great discretion, he didn’t make any difference”.