Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has admitted he was worried a lot about his form, after initially struggling to adapt to life at the European champions.
The 26-year old joined Los Blancos from Paris Saint Germain in the biggest transfer of the summer, and despite the buzz of excitement surrounding his move, he struggled for form at the beginning of the season with a couple of below-par performances.
The French forward has hit top form in the last month with four goals in his last three appearances, including a brace in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat of Las Palmas in the Spanish Laliga.
“I was thinking a lot. I was adapting, thinking a lot about how to move, how to find space, whether I should get into Vinicius Junior’s zone, or Rodrygo’s. When you think so much, you don’t play well”, Mbappe said ahead of the Champions League showdown with Salzburg on Wednesday.
“It was more mental. I was physically fine, happy with the team, the group, but I had to give more. I knew it. I said to myself ‘now’s the moment. It’s time to change. You didn’t come to Madrid to play badly.'”
The former AS Monaco forward has formed a lethal partnership with Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior, and their combination has propelled the club to two trophies already this season, with the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.
“It’s normal. People expected a lot of me. I don’t take it personally, it’s football. You have to stay calm and focused. I knew the situation could change.
I’m a player who always wants to do more,” Mbappé said. “And when you see that you don’t do that, it affects you … After the game [in Bilbao], I knew I couldn’t do worse, that I could only improve”, he added.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
