Kylian Mbappe opens up on his struggles at Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe recently spoke candidly about the difficulties he faced during his early days at Real Madrid, as well as how he managed to overcome them.
In a press conference, the 26-year-old French forward reflected on his struggles in his first season with the club, before ultimately emerging as a key goal scorer for Carlo Ancelotti’s team this year.
Mbappe, who made his much-anticipated free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid last summer, acknowledged that the transition to a new club was not without its challenges.
Joining a star-studded squad that includes the likes of Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo, Mbappe had to adapt to a new playing style, new teammates, and the pressure of living up to high expectations.
Despite the initial hurdles, Mbappe’s hard work and determination paid off as he gradually found his rhythm. His perseverance has now made him an integral part of Real Madrid’s attacking force, and he is widely regarded as one of the club’s most crucial players this season.
However, his early days at the club were not without difficulties, with reports from Spain suggesting that Mbappe had issues with some teammates due to his inconsistent performances in the initial part of the season. In a media appearance ahead of Real Madrid’s important Champions League match against RB Salzburg, Mbappe explained why it took time for him to hit his stride after arriving in Madrid.
The French international stated, “I‘m calm. When you’re a player like me, with what was expected of me, it’s normal for people to talk. They can talk badly, but for me it’s not personal. In the world of football, when you play well they speak well and when you don’t, they speak badly. You have to be calm and focused on your game and what you can improve on. I knew I could change the situation and I have. I’m very happy to help my team. I’m a player who always wants to do more, I’m looking for the best for me and my team. When you see that it’s not happening, it affects you. Playing here is a great opportunity. I knew it could happen, but it has changed my mentality. I could only do better and here I am, proving that I’m a player with great quality and that I can help the team. It’s more mental, telling myself that now I have to do more. I was fine physically and with the group, but I knew I had to do more. I had to change the situation because I didn’t come here to play badly. Now I have to keep it going because playing well for a month is easy and at Real Madrid you always have to play well.”
With so many attacking talents available to Ancelotti, the attacking quartet of Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Bellingham struggled to find chemistry early on. Bellingham, who had an exceptional season the previous year, scoring 19 goals from midfield, had to play a deeper role to create more space for the front three. Meanwhile, Mbappe, who had thrived in wide positions at PSG, was asked to play more centrally to allow Vinicius Jr to occupy the left wing.
Earlier this month, Spanish outlet Marca reported that Mbappe and Vinicius Jr have now reconciled and spoken highly of each other, putting to rest any rumors of a rift between them. Speaking on his relationship with Vini jnr in a previous interview, Mbappe revealed, “What do I admire most about Vini? His humility, without a doubt. Everyone knows the player and sees every three days the quality he has. This year he has won many collective titles and individual awards, but I highlight his humility. He’s always good with the people in the dressing room and I like that a lot. We can score many more goals and we are going to do it. I had to adapt to a new team and in the dressing room they have helped me a lot. I thank them all.“
