An explanation of the text signed José Mourinho, the firm tone and the black eye of crisis mornings. At Valdebebas, the Real Madrid training center, breakfast took on the appearance of a disciplinary council on Tuesday for Kylian Mbappé. At the heart of the grievance: publicized escapades and communication deemed inconsistent in the middle of the treatment protocol.
Hit in the left knee at the end of September in the tricolor jersey, the captain of the Blues found himself swept away by a media storm on the other side of the Pyrenees. Between a night trip in the French capital alongside Ester Exposito and a video on the steep roads of the Swiss Alps on the handlebars of a bicycle, the striker’s outings have triggered incomprehension and annoyance among Merengue aficionados.
In a Spanish press always quick to get excited, the Frenchman’s attitude was quickly portrayed as a provocation towards the institution. Faced with this start of fire, “The Special One” came out of the woods. Faithful to his reputation as an iron-fisted manager, the Portuguese technician spoke eye to eye with his number 9.
A stormy breakfast
According to the indiscretions revealed by El Chiringuito, the focus was direct, without filter or language of wood. Mourinho would have strongly criticized his player on the opportunity to publish such images during his convalescence period. “José Mourinho had a one-on-one explanation with Kylian Mbappé at breakfast time and during this exchange, he gave him a soap, revealed a journalist from the Spanish media. He said to him: ‘Are you enough…’, I’m going over the adjective, ‘…to publish that?’. He added: ‘Outside, I will defend you when I am questioned, but here, no, I will not defend you.’ » A classic Mou posture, ready to act as a shield in front of the spotlight to protect his group, on condition of settling scores internally.
This call to order should, however, leave its mark on the sporting level. While Mbappé is aiming for a return to competition this Saturday at the Santiago-Bernabéu against Villarreal, the prospect of a start has darkened. Absent from the collective session after his interview with the coach, the attacker also flew for an express return trip to Paris during the day. One more episode in a hectic week, which could well encourage the Portuguese strategist to start the meeting with his star scorer on the sidelines.
