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2 weeks ago
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Difficult to make a judgment on Kylian Mbappé’s first steps in Madrid… Certainly, on a statistical level, it is rather correct, with 8 goals and 2 assists in 14 matches in all competitions. But in the game, he still often struggles, and also misses a good number of opportunities. His rather mediocre performance during the Clasico against FC Barcelona also earned him a good round of criticism from the Madrid press, which had been rather benevolent with the Bondynois until now.
The Iberian media even explained that there was a bit of annoyance around the French international in Madrid. His presence is also singled out as one of the factors which explains the loss of balance in the team and the less stellar performances of players like Jude Bellingham. And according to newspaper information RelevoAncelotti and the Madrid players pointed out a major flaw in the Monaco-trained striker.
Some teammates are annoyed
It is particularly on the defensive level that the Italian coach expects more. He has noticed that his team’s high pressure on the pitch is not working this season, and that is partly because of Mbappé. Ancelotti is more worried by the Frenchman’s defensive failings than by his misses or his offsides against FC Barcelona. The statistics revealed that against Barça he only ran 8 kilometers, which is extremely low, the average for a striker being 9.9 km per match. The media even adds that if Ancelotti has nothing against the former PSG and still has confidence in him, in the squad, certain players are annoyed by the Frenchman’s lack of defensive involvement.
They consider that Mbappé tends to wait for the ball to pass his pressing line so he can walk, rest, and position himself to prepare for his next call. Both the staff and the players hope that the Bondynois will open his eyes and understand that defensive tasks are just as important as offensive tasks. Ancelotti and his deputies are also thinking about making changes, such as reversing the positions of Vinicius Jr and Mbappé on sequences without the ball. Whatever happens, Mbappé knows what he has to do, starting with this match against Milan on Tuesday evening…
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
