The “Titi palette” has spoken, and it has not been kind to Kylian Mbappé. Tuesday evening, on the CBS set, Thierry Henry took five minutes to show all the current deficiencies of his compatriot to correctly play the role of number 9 of Real Madrid, still beaten at home by AC Milan (1-3) in the Champions League.
As we could already say last season, notably during the double confrontation with Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final, Mbappé still does not behave as a central attacker should, whether in his races towards the front or its placement.
“It’s always Bellingham that does the shopping”
Supporting images, Henry deciphers a good half-dozen situations where Kyky does not make the necessary calls to help his team in its collective expression. “It’s always Bellingham who does the shopping, who tries to make the team play,” points out the former Arsenal and Blues striker. There, it's him again who tries to break the lines. And there, who goes into the surface? Him. Again. »
On the next action, he continues: “Look at number 9! Again, your 9 doesn't go there, it's your 10. It can happen sometimes, but not all the time. I know that's not what he [Mbappé] likes to do, but you think Bellingham likes to do these races? He does it because it must be done, because desire and will speak. »
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Henry then explains that all these situations cause frustration within the Real team. And particularly on the side of Bellingham, who despite a last season as boss accepts a different role to make room for the former Parisian, and who may have the impression that the latter is not making all the efforts on his side.
“You can't win a match like that, with your number 10 breaking the lines, coming back to defend, then leaving again,” says Titi, who understands the English environment perfectly when he kicks a bottle of water at the time of its replacement. “I’d be pissed too. Of course I would be upset. »
“It can’t be worse than that”
Back at the consultants' table, Henry is then questioned about possible solutions for Mbappé to better integrate into the Real team. “It's going to be better, because it can't be worse than that anyway. But… We don't ask him to keep the ball like Didier Drogba, because that's not your game, we don't ask him to take the ball and dribble past everyone, because that can't work all the time. time, but to run! Whether you are a winger, a 9 or a 10, you can make a run, even Rüdiger made one. »
The former coach of Monaco and the Espoirs concedes that Carlo Ancelotti is facing a dilemma. “That was the question when we knew that Mbappé was going to Madrid: how will he do [Ancelotti] to balance this team? », recalls the consultant. It is clear that for the moment, it is not working, with Bellingham being used in the wrong way and Rodrygo being put aside.
“I’m not going to make excuses for Bellingham but where are you playing, what should you do? Rodrygo was essential last year when they were losing the ball. He's on the bench now, Henry notes. I know he may not have the efficiency of Vinicius, but Rodrygo balanced the team without the ball. It's going to be hard for Ancelotti to find a way for all the players to coexist. In any case for me, it's not enough and you can't lose 4-0, 3-1, concede nine goals at home in the last three games. That's not Real Madrid. »
