If at the start of the season the Frenchman was scoring goals without really impressing, he is now doing neither, and his performance in the Clasico opened the door to this concern.
Mbappé is required to score goals, but Diario AS says his performance on big occasions is “non-negotiable”. During the Clasico, Barcelona caught Mbappé offside 8 times, while he only had 9 all season, 47% of his offsides in just 8% of his minutes. At Real Madrid, the “run-run”, or the murmurs of discontent began – “
this Mbappé is not the same as this Mbappé”, is the phrase that runs through the corridors.
Not the same Mbappé as at PSG
Mbappé has scored 8 goals this season, but three from the penalty spot, and only one in his last five games. It was a feat from outside the box, but not something he can repeat every game. The Whites don’t know how to solve this problem, having tried to take care of his physical condition during the last international break, but it hasn’t improved much. The other problem is a mental block, which is much more difficult to resolve.
The 25-year-old may not live up to his reputation, but he is partly the victim of a dysfunctional Real Madrid team, playing in a position he doesn’t like. While that in itself is not a reason not to perform, it is clear that he is not entirely comfortable, and in general, Real Madrid’s attack has not worked. Finding the answer to this problem will have to be the first area for Carlo Ancelotti to address.
