Mbappe’s Champions League debut given brutal judgement by Madrid legend

Robin Bairner

18 Sept 2024 12:20 BST
3 min read

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

Kylian Mbappe might have scored on his Real Madrid debut in the Champions League, but that was not enough to satisfy the France star’s critics, with a former star of the Bernabeu taking aim at the forward for a performance that “didn’t excite”.

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Mbappe tapped in a cross from Rodrygo to open the scoring for Real Madrid on the stroke of half-time in their clash against Stuttgart on Tuesday.

In total, he had a massive seven shots, four of which hit the target, plus 14 touches in the box – nearly twice as many as anyone else in the game.

Current ETV

Kylian Mbappé

F (C)

Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé

F (C)

Real Madrid

ETV Range

€115.4M - €192.4M

This was not enough to satisfy Steve McManaman, with the former Real Madrid winger hitting out at the 25-year-old’s performance.

"When you're talking about Kylian, and you're talking about the player that he is and the player we have seen in the past, I thought he was very average, to be honest," said McManaman to TNT Sports.

"He got his goal and he will get the headlines, but he did not really excite like we expected him to.

"Listen, Real Madrid have scored three tonight, and we are sort of not giving them the love really, but we have seen them perform much, much better and this front three have to get better, and they will get better.

"Better teams would have beaten them tonight, and I still think that it is a warning."

READ MORE: Real Madrid top scorers 2024/25

© IMAGO - Kylian Mbappe has not avoided criticism at the start of his Real Madrid career

Bellingham hails Mbappe

McManaman might have slammed Mbappe, but his contribution was appreciated by Jude Bellingham, who said he is “not surprised” by the way his teammate has settled at his new team.

"I didn't even realise it was his debut, I just thought it's another game he'll score in," he told TNT Sports.

"He always delivers so far, it's a lot of pressure coming to a club like Madrid, but he's taken to it really easily and the lads love him already.

"He's going to be a huge player for us, this season and beyond."

Mbappe has now scored four goals in his last three Real Madrid matches.