French star Kylian Mbappé has become a major concern for Real Madrid officials and fans due to his fluctuating form during the crucial phase of the season. Since joining the Spanish club last summer, the 26-year-old forward has displayed varying performances—shining in some matches while struggling in others.
Spanish newspaper AS shed light on this inconsistency, emphasizing that Mbappé was at his peak recently, particularly in the Champions League knockout match against Manchester City, where he scored a hat-trick. However, in his last two games—against Real Betis in La Liga and Atlético Madrid in the Champions League—he failed to make an impact, raising the question: What is happening?
Ancelotti Defends Mbappé
The Frenchman’s recent underwhelming performances have sparked discussions, prompting Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti to defend him. The Italian tactician explained that Mbappé had not trained properly due to wisdom tooth surgery, which affected his preparation. “It’s true that he wasn’t at his best against Betis, but he will improve with more playing time,” Ancelotti reassured.
Alarming Stats in Recent Matches
Mbappé’s numbers in his last two matches have been concerning for Real Madrid supporters:
- He registered just one shot (against Atlético Madrid), which was weak and easily saved by Jan Oblak.
- He did not win any fouls throughout both matches.
- He lost possession 12 times, marking one of his worst performances since joining the club.
- Out of 10 direct duels with defenders, he succeeded in only two.
- His passing accuracy was 82.5%, with none of his passes reaching teammates inside the penalty area.
Can Mbappé Regain His Form?
Despite these worrying numbers, fans hope his struggles are only temporary and that he will regain his best form, starting with the upcoming La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano, followed by the decisive second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Atlético Madrid.
Season Performance So Far
So far this season, Mbappé has played 40 matches in all competitions for Real Madrid, scoring 27 goals and providing 4 assists. However, he has missed two penalties out of seven attempts, according to data from Transfermarkt.
Last December, after missing a crucial penalty in Real Madrid’s 1-2 defeat to Athletic Bilbao, Mbappé admitted that he was struggling mentally. “It was a psychological issue. In Bilbao, I realized that I couldn’t perform any worse than that. I told myself, You didn’t come to Madrid to play badly,” he stated.
Now, with the season reaching its most decisive phase, all eyes are on Mbappé to see if he can step up and lead Real Madrid to glory.
