Kylian Mbappé has revealed how the pain of missing a crucial penalty in Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Athletic Club became the catalyst for his recent resurgence in form.
The French forward had a rocky start at Real Madrid, facing criticism despite a decent goal tally. The pressure mounted earlier this month when he missed penalties in back-to-back games against Liverpool and Athletic Club, leaving fans and critics questioning his form.
However, Mbappé has since turned things around. He found the net against Girona and scored early in a match against Atalanta before an injury sidelined him. Upon his return, he shone brightly in a 3-0 win over Pachuca in Qatar and followed it up with a standout performance in a 4-2 victory against Sevilla.
Speaking after the Sevilla match, Mbappé said:
“I can do a lot more. I know I have more football in me than I’ve been showing. But I’ve been improving in the last few games. The game against Bilbao was a turning point for me. Missing that penalty was like hitting rock bottom, and it made me realize I needed to give my all for this shirt and play with personality.”
He added, “We’re starting to understand each other better as a team. My arrival brought changes, but now the adaptation is complete. I feel great, and you can see it on the pitch. Our cohesion is improving, and we’re playing much better as a unit.”
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti also weighed in, expressing confidence in the forward’s progress:
“His adaptation period is over. He has been self-critical, and that attitude has helped him overcome a challenging phase. He’s now showing the immense quality we all knew he had.”
Ancelotti also joked with journalists, saying, “Sometimes, I am right!”
Mbappé’s recent performances have shown glimpses of his best, and fans will hope he can maintain this form as Real Madrid push for success in all competitions.