By Abigail Philip David
Kylian Mbappé has opened up about his recent struggles at Real Madrid, admitting that a missed penalty against Athletic Club was a defining moment in his adjustment to life at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The French forward, who joined Los Blancos during the summer after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired, has faced significant challenges adapting to his new role under coach Carlo Ancelotti.
On December 4, Mbappé’s penalty was saved by Athletic Club goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala, marking his second crucial miss in just a week after a similar failure against Liverpool in the Champions League. The consecutive misses drew widespread criticism, intensifying scrutiny on the 26-year-old’s form.
Reflecting on those moments after scoring in Real Madrid’s 4-2 victory over Sevilla on Sunday, Mbappé told Real Madrid TV (via ESPN):
“I can do a lot more. I know that I have a lot more in my legs. In the last few games, I’ve played better. The game in Bilbao was good for me. I hit rock bottom; I missed a penalty. That was the moment I realized I needed to give my all for this shirt and play with more personality.”
Despite the early struggles, Mbappé’s recent performances suggest he is regaining his confidence. The forward has now scored in four consecutive matches, bringing his season tally to 13 goals and three assists in 23 appearances across all competitions.
Mbappé credited his resurgence to better understanding his teammates, saying:
“I think we’ve gotten to know each other better. I came into the team, and that changes a lot of things. But now, as [Carlo Ancelotti] has said, my adaptation is complete, and I feel good. We can see on the pitch that I understand my teammates better, and the whole team is playing better.”
While Mbappé continues to adapt to his new centre-forward role, he operates in the shadow of Vinícius Júnior, who has excelled in Mbappé’s favored left-wing position. Nonetheless, the French star’s recent performances show he is becoming a vital part of Real Madrid’s setup as the team competes for success on multiple fronts this season.
