Kylian Mbappé’s early days at Real Madrid have been somewhat rocky. Despite scoring eight goals and recording two assists in 15 appearances, the former Paris Saint-Germain star is still finding his rhythm with the team’s style of play.
His first El Clásico was especially challenging, with Real Madrid suffering a 4-0 loss to Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu on October 26. The difficulties continued on Tuesday, as they fell 3-1 to AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League.
This was Real Madrid’s second straight home defeat, with a combined score of 7-1 over the two games. Across both matches, PSG’s all-time top scorer struggled to leave a significant mark.
Kylian Mbappé at fault for Real Madrid’s struggles
Amid the ongoing issues with the Spanish side, RMC Sport pundit Jérôme Rothen stated that the Frenchman is to blame for Real Madrid’s current performance.
“Mbappé was the star of the summer. Real Madrid won everything last season with a solid team and players who proved their worth on the field,” Rothen said (h/t Diario AS). “However, I feel that all of that has been lost. Kylian has become the focal point of this situation, and his presence is causing frustration for some.
“Other players have taken on different roles or even lost prominence. It’s clear that an adjustment period is needed when changing teams, but when you’re among the best players in the world, this should happen quickly. We’re already in November, and currently, it seems like he’s regressing, which is his responsibility.
“I notice his movements as a center-forward have worsened, and I see him making decisions that go against Real Madrid’s style of play. This has become a burden. Unfortunately, Mbappé is the main one responsible for Real Madrid’s weak start.”
There’s already drama brewing behind the scenes, as Mundo Deportivo reported this week that Mbappé isn’t a fan of Carlo Ancelotti’s style of play. The Spanish outlet notes that the player has mentioned to those close to him that he’s accustomed to having the team play around him, as it was with PSG.