Kylian Mbappe’s difficult spell with Real Madrid continued on Tuesday, as Los Blancos suffered a 3-1 home defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League.
The French star’s performance came under heavy criticism from the media.
Having joined Madrid on a free transfer from PSG this summer, Mbappe was once again played as a No. 9. ..Continue Reading
However, he struggled to make an impact, intensifying the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti’s team after their second European loss, which followed closely after their El Clasico defeat.
Tensions also seem to be rising in the locker room, with Lucas Vazquez, who had a tough game at right-back, seemingly directing criticism toward the striker.
“In football, both defending and attacking is for the 11 guys, titles are won by teams and not by individuals,” he said.
Although Vazquez did not directly criticize Mbappe, CBS pundit Thierry Henry had no reservations about analyzing the performance of the forward, who is expected to eventually break his own scoring record for France.
“I know Mbappe is not a No.9,” he said. “I know this may not be his favourite role, but will and desire speak. You do not win games with your No.10, Jude Bellingham, making runs instead of the striker. Coming back, bending his run, defending, and he gets substituted. I would have been upset too.
“I saw Bellingham kick a bottle when he came off. He was the one making all the runs, not Mbappe. I would be upset also. Of course I would also have been upset. This is not good enough. I don’t think they are playing well as a team.
“Mbappe will get better, because he can’t be worse than this. We are not asking him to hold the ball like Didier Drogba. Or take the ball and dribble past everybody. Make runs, when the team is high. Whether you’re a winger, a striker or a 10.”
