Former French international Nicolas Anelka has shared his views on Kylian Mbappé’s situation at Real Madrid. A former player for one season in the famous white shirt, the ex-striker was very clear in his comments on RMC Sport this Sunday.
Mbappé has been making headlines for quite some time. Struggling at Real Madrid, where he arrived to great fanfare last August, the 25-year-old has faced significant criticism. While some believe he is not giving his all for Florentino Pérez’s club, which explains his difficulties in excelling during big matches, KM9, who bounced back this Sunday against Getafe with a brilliant goal, has received the backing of Nicolas Anelka. Appearing on the programme Stephen Brunch as a special guest this Sunday, the former Chelsea Blues striker discussed the challenges of establishing oneself at Real, especially in a new environment.
Anelka’s candid insights
Having himself played in the Spanish capital between 1999 and 2000 (33 matches, 7 goals) before returning to Paris Saint-Germain, his boyhood club, the now 45-year-old stated that he sees himself in the tough situation Kylian Mbappé is currently facing. To explain the difficulties experienced by his young compatriot, who is playing abroad for the first time in a league where the standards are extremely high, Nicolas Anelka called for patience.
Moreover, the former Arsenal player emphasised that KM9’s adjustment to a new position should not be underestimated. “The problem is that everyone thinks it’s easy for a winger to become a number 9, as it’s still an attacking role. But it’s a completely different position. He’s only been playing as a 9 for a year. As a winger, Mbappé’s game is based on speed and finding space,” he explained before elaborating further.
“When you play as a 9, you’re constantly playing with your back to goal and with two defenders marking you. And now he’s being asked, after changing clubs, country, stadium, and teammates… to become a number 9 in just three or four months. That’s impossible. You need to be patient. People don’t respect the number 9 position. He can’t become a 9 overnight,” Anelka continued on Stephen Brunch.
“He’s not in the right headspace”
After analysing Mbappé’s situation, which he compared to his own challenges when he joined Real Madrid at the age of 20, Nico Anelka stressed that the current Real Madrid number 9 is finding his footing and possesses the qualities needed to succeed, particularly given his winning mentality. However, the former France striker lamented the immense pressure on the French national team captain, who, according to him, is not in the right headspace, as Didier Deschamps recently suggested.
“He’s under a lot of pressure. I don’t think he’s in the right headspace. He needs to keep working and be patient. They’ve made an investment in him, and it’s not just for six months. When I look at Mbappé and what he’s going through, I see myself 25 years ago. I had just arrived, and Real had won the Champions League two years earlier. A team was already in place. The president had pushed hard for me to join. I didn’t really have a place (in the team). I faced the same difficulties when I was 20,” Anelka explained, although he believes Mbappé is in a slightly different situation.
With Carlo Ancelotti’s tactful and protective management, there is hope that the 2018 World Cup winner will return to his best form in the coming weeks. Against Getafe, the French forward displayed promising signs, including a beaming smile. Even though he has not yet fully regained his rhythm in front of goal, KM9 could become a formidable force in the months ahead. Fingers crossed.
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