Since his arrival at Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappé has suffered criticism from the press and certain teammates for his lack of defensive involvement. Although his statistics remain solid with 8 goals in 14 matches, the French striker struggles to convince on the pitch, notably during the Clasico against FC Barcelona. His low investment in defense and his inability to press effectively annoy the Madrid locker room, who believe that his failings unbalance the team and harm the performances of players like Jude Bellingham.
Ancelotti and the locker room hoping for change
Coach Carlo Ancelotti shares this concern, pointing out that high pressing does not work in part because of Mbappé, who only covers 8 kilometers per game, well below average for a striker. Internally, adjustments are being considered to strengthen defensive cohesion, in particular by modifying the positions of Mbappé and Vinicius Jr during phases without the ball. If the staff and teammates hope for rapid awareness, the next match against AC Milan could be decisive for Mbappé.
