Highly anticipated against Atlético Madrid this Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, Kylian Mbappé delivered a very disappointing performance. While Carlo Ancelotti is trying to find unconvincing excuses to protect his forward, a possible explanation may actually clarify the situation.
On fire since the end of 2024, Kylian Mbappé has hit a slump. Leading the attack in La Liga last Saturday against Real Betis, Real Madrid’s top scorer faded after just 20 minutes of play, just like the rest of the team. Unable to find space or solutions in attack, KM9 was quickly substituted by Carlo Ancelotti. In his post-match press conference, the 65-year-old coach tried to shield his player, claiming that he was out of shape due to a dental procedure a few days earlier.
What’s going on with the Bondynois?
On Tuesday, things got even worse for the former Paris Saint-Germain player. Indeed, highly anticipated against Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, Kylian Mbappé put in a very, very poor performance. Expected to shine, especially after his stunning hat-trick against Manchester City in his last outing in the competition, he was practically invisible. If he had at least shown some promise in La Liga on Saturday, the 26-year-old forward failed completely against the Colchoneros.
From poor ball control to misplaced passes, Kylian displayed a lot of inconsistency. Worse still, the Frenchman seemed sluggish on the pitch. While his teammates, notably Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Diaz, covered vast distances both defensively and offensively, Kylian Mbappé only ran 4 km in the first half and even less in the second. In a final action where he could have salvaged his night by setting up Vinicius Junior for a 3-1 goal, he made a poor decision, taking a heavy touch that allowed Atlético’s defenders to recover in time.
As criticism poured in for his disappointing display, KM9 was defended by Carlo Ancelotti. While the Italian coach acknowledged that his forward had an off night, he once again pointed to the dental procedure Mbappé underwent earlier in the week and expressed confidence in a better performance next time. “He was fine, he had no physical problems. He couldn’t train much because of the tooth pain. Against Betis, he wasn’t in optimal condition, and these minutes have helped him get back to his best for the next match.”
Mbappé’s lack of commitment in training
Looking deeper into the French striker’s struggles, it becomes clear that Ancelotti’s excuses don’t really hold up. Despite suffering from an adductor injury for weeks, Federico Valverde put in a sensational display against Atlético Madrid, even after missing Real Madrid’s last three matches. In reality, Mbappé needs to apply more pressure on himself and work tirelessly, as Karim Benzema recently suggested in Les Amis d’Edu podcast. During recent training sessions we observed, Mbappé’s effort levels have noticeably dropped.
Instead of following the example of Jude Bellingham—whom Théo Zidane, son of the legendary Zizou, described as “an absolute machine who gives his all in every training drill”—the Madrid No. 9 has been taking it easy. Before the Real Betis match, Mbappé was seen joking around with Eduardo Camavinga rather than focusing on drills. Coincidentally, Camavinga is also experiencing a rough patch in terms of performance.
Clearly, the former PSG star is paying the price for his lack of commitment and seriousness during training sessions. If he truly wants to make history like Cristiano Ronaldo, as he often claims, he must work relentlessly and ensure he is physically ready for every challenge. Seeing Valverde, despite an injury, shine in an unfamiliar position makes it clear that success is all about mentality and determination. The captain of the French national team must get his head straight.
Leave a Reply