Finalist and protagonist in the last two World Cups, PSG’s top scorer year after year and with impressive numbers, Mbappé is still a young man of just 25 years old. The expectation surrounding his arrival at Real Madrid was immense, but his first half as a merengue player was below expectations. This Wednesday’s match, the 27th, against Liverpool, in the Champions League, is perhaps a good example of the beginning of the French striker’s ineffective trajectory.
Unlike what happened last season at PSG, Mbappé arrived at Real Madrid to seek space in competition with Vinicius Júnior, currently considered the second best player in the world by ‘France Football‘. With similar styles, the Brazilian took control of the left wing merenguewhile it was up to French to become a ‘false 9’.
The technician himself BlancosCarlo Ancelotti, stated in a press conference that he would not change the position of the team’s main player (Vini) and that, therefore, Mbappé would have to adapt to another role.
In this model, as a number 9, something he already performed in Paris, Mbappé even managed to score his goals, but without the same volume and shine as before. Furthermore, defeats to Lille, Barcelona (rout) and Milan called into question the work of coach Carlo Ancelotti and the path followed by Real Madrid this season.
Whether or not it was due to Mbappé’s complaint, the coach decided to change after the last FIFA Date and the Frenchman became the left winger, with Vinicius Júnior as false 9. The combination generated a goal in a quiet victory against Leganés last weekend . In total, Mbappé has 9 goals and 2 assists in 18 games for the Spanish team. The Brazilian star has 12 goals and 6 assists in the same period.
After the game against Leganés, Vini suffered a muscle injury to the biceps femoris of his left leg and was absent from Real Madrid for another month. With the squad missing, also without Rodrygo in attack, Mbappé had this Wednesday, against Liverpool, his first chance to be the protagonist of the Spanish club, but he failed.
Mbappé played the 90 minutes against Liverpool and was marked by the missed penalty after a great save by Kelleher when the game was still 1-0 (it ended 2-0 for the Reds). But the mistakes during the match drew attention. There were 15 losses of ball possession, he got the worst of most of the duels he tried (most against the young Bradley) and only ended with a poorly executed penalty. After the match, Ancelotti preached patience regarding the French player’s performance.
“Mbappé is an extraordinary player, we have to be patient. He is doing well and adapting well. We are with him. We are not going to destroy a player just because of a missed penalty. That can happen. I’m sure everyone has confidence in him”, said the coach after the defeat.
Without Vini, Rodrygo and others injured, the hope of Real Madrid’s attack lies with Mbappé. The team’s next matches will be against Girona, Atalanta and Rayo Vallecano, with the team needing to respond this season. To see if the Frenchman will shine as expected and, ultimately, disenchant.
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