After a complicated start to the season, Kylian Mbappé seems to be thriving again on the football fields with Real Madrid. The French international has been regaining his level of play for several weeks, and this is due to a small detail according to the Spanish press.
“His adaptation phase is over.” Carlo Ancelotti did not think he was saying that well on Saturday when talking about Kylian Mbappé, the day before Real Madrid's big victory against Sevilla (4-2). Since the arrival of his new striker in the Spanish capital, the Merengues coach has always supported his player. And the 2018 world champion paid it forward on Sunday against Sevilla FC with a sumptuous goal and an assist.
But this return to form on the part of Kylian Mbappé would be linked to a certain detail that the Spanish press has clearly highlighted. The latter, who believes that the French international had the “best match” of his season on Sunday, noted that the 26-year-old player was regaining his level of play since he decided to play with his jersey in his shorts.
The defeat in Bilbao, a trigger?
“Since he tucked his jersey into his shorts, he has been scoring goals. The players are superstitious and there is something in that,” said a journalist from Cadena Ser radio. And it must be said that Kylian Mbappé has had a string of good performances since this choice. But concretely, what was the Frenchman's last match with the jersey outside his shorts?
As a symbol, to see the 26-year-old striker playing in this way, you have to go back to December 4 during the defeat against Bilbao (1-2). A decisive match according to him. “I hit rock bottom. I missed a penalty and that was the moment to realize that I had to give my all for this jersey and play with personality,” he admitted to Real Madrid TV after the victory against Seville.
Was this disillusionment in Bilbao a trigger for Kylian Mbappé? Regardless, the captain of the Blues has since played with his jersey tucked into his shorts. And it works. Since December 7, and the match against Girona, his first with this new style, Kylian Mbappé has scored 4 goals and provided two assists, all in just four matches.
“Starts activating beast mode”
Enough to make his trainer smile. “He showed self-criticism and, thanks to this attitude, he was able to overcome a complicated situation. It already shows all its quality. Yesterday (Saturday) I said 'his adaptation period is over' and today (Sunday) he proved to me that I was right from time to time,” rejoiced Carlo Ancelotti after the victory against in Seville.
But the Italian is not the only one to appreciate seeing Kylian Mbappé flourishing again on the pitch. The Spanish press also welcomes this return to the top. “Mbappé makes his self-criticism and begins to activate beast mode,” underlines Marca. Superstitious or not, we can only validate this new style of play.
