This is one of the main questions for Real Madrid, José Mourinho. Renowned for being a strong coach who knows how to make his locker room love him, will the Special One find the magic formula with Kylian Mbappé? For two years, the captain of the France team has been the number 1 offensive weapon of Casa Blanca, without any possible dispute. Author of 86 goals (15 assists) in 103 matches, in all competitions, since 2024, Mbappé completed his 2025/2025 season by finishing top scorer in La Liga and the Champions League… before becoming the top scorer in the history of World Cups with the Blues.
On paper, nothing to complain about, except that the Frenchman has nevertheless become the target of criticism in Spain. Madrid has just gone two seasons without winning a major trophy and Mbappé has failed in his role as leader, not to mention his eternal shortcomings on the defensive level. This last point also arouses the curiosity of Real Madrid observers. With Mourinho, defensive work is more vital than ever. Will the Portuguese find the solution to convince his star to wear his jersey a little more in this aspect of the game? We’ll have to wait a little longer to find out. In the meantime, the new Merengues coach spoke about his number 10 in a long interview given to the famous Spanish show El Chiringuito.
“Mbappé sometimes makes me laugh in training because he is really too strong”
“Mbappé is incredible. He sometimes makes me laugh in training because he’s really too strong. It’s stratospheric. It’s not for me to judge or analyze what he did last season. A strange season, a complicated season for everyone. In the end, it’s always the same story. Arbeloa and Xabi bore the brunt of the situation. I always say that victory or defeat depends on many factors. I said it from the first day at Valdebebas (the Spanish club’s training center, editor’s note) to everyone, not just the players: I do not accept that we attribute the fault or the applause to a single person. It doesn’t suit me”he confided, before continuing.
“A lot of people failed last year, not just the coaches or the players. When you talk to me about Mbappé, I prefer to think about what Kylian can become from now on. A guy who could have arrived on August 14 and who showed up on the 12th already tells me a lot. If he wants to show up on the 12th, it’s because he wants to play against Schalke in minimal conditions. Then, train like everyone else, with the same commitment, the same desire to improve and during difficult training sessions. We all need to be more team players. But the numbers are incredible. What these two players (Mbappé and Bellingham, editor’s note) accomplished during this World Cup is simply incredible. Bellingham had an incredible World Cup, but Mbappé made history. » Mbappé will appreciate it.
