the terrible observation of the Spanish press with Mbappé

Real Madrid is going through a period of doubts and uncertainties, exacerbated by the disappointing performances of Kylian Mbappé who becomes the target of the media. The Madrid public, accustomed to the passion and intensity that characterize their team, is worried to see this season marked by a lack of voracity and fluid football. Fans, who nostalgically observe the outbursts of players like Vinícius or Valverde, can’t help but wonder: ”at what point did the team lose its identity on the pitch?”, as the presents El Confidencial. Carlo Ancelotti’s tactical plan rests on solid foundations, but the long-awaited alchemy does not occur. “You can do everything except play football”, we can hear from the most disappointed journalists, as the Parisian star seems to be a shadow of the flamboyant striker they seemed to expect. Mbappé, once considered a prodigy, seems to wander the field without the slightest rebellion in the face of his decline in form, enough to motivate them to use their pens to criticize him.

Mbappé destroyed in Spain

The contrast with players like Vinícius is stark. In the match against Villarreal, Vinícius dazzled with his technique and speed of execution, thwarting three opponents with an elegant move before sending the ball into the back of the net. Meanwhile, Mbappé, despite receiving balls in dangerous areas, seemed ”clumsy, slow, almost hesitant” as most Madrid match summaries describe. We can even read that: ”his attempts at dribbling, once formidable, now resemble laborious gestures, reminiscent more of an artistic installation than a real Real Madrid striker.”. Ancelotti, confronted with this situation, saw his tactical certainties shaken. The real question mark of the season does not lie in the tactical adjustments, but in Mbappé’s ability to regain his level and adapt to his new physical conditions. If the Frenchman does not regain his brilliance, he risks becoming a dead weight for a Madrid which aspires to shine in the months to come.