Kylian Mbappe has admitted that his start to life at Real Madrid could not have gone any worse.
After years of speculation, Mbappe finally joined Madrid in the summer on a free transfer after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired but, despite a good return in front of goal, the Frenchman’s performances have fallen short of expectations.
Many began to wonder if Mbappe really made it Madrid downside and the 26-year-old admitted that he hit “bottom” in December when he missed two penalties in the space of a week.
Having now started to turn things around, Mbappe has spoken openly about his struggles and admitted he had no idea how bad things would get.
“A player always wants more, for me and for the team, so when you don’t do that, it’s normal that it affects you,” Mbappe told reporters. “I knew it could happen and in the end it was good because I changed my mentality and said, ‘I can’t play worse. Things can only get better.’
“It was more of a mental thing. I thought, ‘Now I have to do more,’ simply. I thought I was good physically and with the team, but I had to do more, I knew that. It was a moment when I said, ‘Come on , it’s time for a change. You didn’t come to Madrid to play badly’.
“It wasn’t shyness. But you have to come to Real Madrid with humility, because it’s a team that won everything and you can’t come with demands, ordering ‘Pass me the ball’. No. Here you come with the greatest respect… And to work .”
Mbappe has confirmed early claims that he has struggled to find space on the pitch in a forward line that also includes left-back stars Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.
– I thought a lot – he said. “You can see it in the games. It was a time of adjustment and I was thinking too much: how to do it, should I move in space or go to the left, in Vinny’s area or in Rodrygo’s, and when you think so much, you don’t play well.”
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