Kylian Mbappe says mental shift helped change his Real Madrid ‘situation’
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Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe in action against Las Palmas in a La Liga clash on Jan 19.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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MADRID – Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe said on Jan 21 a shift in mentality helped him improve his “situation” in the Spanish capital, after struggling initially following his dream move from Paris Saint-Germain.
The French superstar played inconsistently in his first months at Real after joining last summer but, in recent weeks, has returned to his devastating peak.
“You always have to be calm and focus on your game and what you can improve. I knew that I could change the situation, and now the situation has changed,” Mbappe told a news conference ahead of Real’s Champions League clash with RB Salzburg on Jan 22.
His rediscovered elan comes at the perfect time for Real with two crucial Champions League matches ahead, starting with Salzburg’s visit to the Santiago Bernabeu before they travel to face Brest, aiming to secure progress to the next phase.
It would be unthinkable for the holders and record 15-time European champions to suffer an early knockout but, after a poor start, they are presently 20th in the 36-team group, with the bottom 12 teams eliminated.
Mbappe missed penalties against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao towards the end of 2024, and admitted at the time he had “hit the bottom”.
The 26-year-old pledged to show his personality and overcome his shaky start, and has now scored eight goals in his last 10 games across all competitions, including a stunning solo effort against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.
“It was more of a mental thing... I knew I was good physically, good with the team, the group, but I had to do more and I knew it,” he said.
“It was the moment to say that now I had to change everything, change the situation, because I didn’t come to Madrid to play badly.
“Now it’s all changed, and I have to continue, because playing well for a month is good, but it’s easy.”
During his spell of poor form and while struggling with a thigh problem, Mbappe was left out of several France squads for Nations League games in the final months of 2024.
However, the forward is looking forward to returning to action with his country.
“There’s no issue with the national team... I can understand the criticism (in France),” said Mbappe, who won the World Cup with Les Bleus in 2018.
“I’m excited to return in March and try to reach the Nations League semi-finals. My love for the national team has not changed.” AFP
