This season, Kylian Mbappé has become the lifeblood of Real Madrid, with statistics highlighting just how crucial he is to the team’s success. When the French star fails to find the back of the net, the results often reflect that struggle. Recent matches against Liverpool and Rayo Vallecano serve as stark reminders of this dependency; a 1-0 defeat in Liverpool and a goalless draw against Rayo have left Madrid fans concerned about their title aspirations.
Since the start of the current campaign, Mbappé has been directly involved in an astonishing 52.94% of Real Madrid’s goals. To put this into perspective, he has contributed to 18 out of the 34 goals scored by the team so far. These figures are reminiscent of the peak years of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi when both were pivotal to their respective clubs. For example, during the 2014-2015 season, Ronaldo was involved in 38.61% of Madrid’s goals, while Messi accounted for 39.46% of Barcelona’s in 2011-2012. However, those seasons did not culminate in major trophies for either side, illustrating a troubling trend: over-reliance on a single superstar can be detrimental.
The Risk of Overdependence
This heavy reliance on Mbappé raises concerns for coach Xabi Alonso as he seeks to build a balanced squad capable of competing at the highest level. While Mbappé shines with his individual brilliance, other attacking players have struggled to step up consistently. In tightly contested matches, such as Sunday’s clash at Vallecas where creativity was stifled, it becomes evident that Madrid cannot solely lean on their French forward. The challenge lies in finding additional scoring threats to alleviate some of that pressure off Mbappé.
Looking Ahead
The implications of this situation are significant for Real Madrid as they navigate through the season. If they hope to reclaim their status as La Liga and Champions League contenders, diversifying their attacking options will be crucial. With upcoming fixtures looming, questions abound: Can other players rise to the occasion? Will they find a way to support Mbappé effectively? The answers to these questions could very well determine Madrid’s fate in domestic and European competitions.
As it stands, Kylian Mbappé is undoubtedly a key player for Real Madrid—he is not the problem but rather a glaring indicator of what needs to change within the squad. The team must rally around him and develop more offensive cohesion if they are to avoid repeating past mistakes that have cost them dearly.
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