Real Madrid star calls out LAZY teammates as Mbappe told he can’t get worse

Robin Bairner

6 Nov 2024 14:00 GMT
2 min read

Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Kylian Mbappe’s Real Madrid nightmare continued on Tuesday as Los Blancos were defeated 3-1 at home by AC Milan in the Champions League, with the France star turning in a performance that was roundly criticised in the media.

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Mbappe, signed on a free transfer from PSG in the summer, was again fielded as a No.9 for Los Blancos but failed to make a positive impact as the pressure built on Carlo Ancelotti’s side with a second defeat in Europe’s premier competition following hot on the heels of the loss of El Clasico.

And there appears to be growing tension in the dressing room, with Lucas Vazquez, who was exposed at right-back, appearing to angle a dig at the striker.

“In football, both defending and attacking is for the 11 guys, titles are won by teams and not by individuals,” he said.

STATS

Kylian Mbappé

F (C)

Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé

F (C)

Real Madrid

10

Games
6

Goals
1

Assists

Henry destroys Mbappe

While Vazquez did not call out Mbappe specifically, CBS pundit Thierry Henry had no such problems when it came to dissecting the performances of a forward expected to surpass him in France’s goalscoring stakes one day.

“I know Mbappe is not a No.9,” he said. “I know this may not be his favourite role, but will and desire speak. You do not win games with your No.10, Jude Bellingham, making runs instead of the striker. Coming back, bending his run, defending, and he gets substituted. I would have been upset too.

“I saw Bellingham kick a bottle when he came off. He was the one making all the runs, not Mbappe. I would be upset also. Of course I would also have been upset. This is not good enough. I don’t think they are playing well as a team.

“Mbappe will get better, because he can’t be worse than this. We are not asking him to hold the ball like Didier Drogba. Or take the ball and dribble past everybody. Make runs, when the team is high. Whether you’re a winger, a striker or a 10.”