Kylian Mbappé’s start at Real Madrid hasn’t been as smooth as expected. While the former Paris Saint-Germain star scored five goals in his first five LaLiga matches, only two came from open play, with the other three coming from penalties.
Mbappé’s much-anticipated move to Real Madrid, expected to bolster the team’s dominance in LaLiga and the UEFA Champions League, has fallen short so far.
Despite scoring seven goals in 11 games across all competitions, his overall impact on the team’s play has been underwhelming. There’s been a noticeable lack of chemistry between him, Rodrygo Goes, and Vinícius Jr., which has hindered the effectiveness of Real Madrid’s attacking trio.
With just 14 goals scored, the output has been well below expectations, especially considering the excitement surrounding Mbappé’s arrival and the strong performances from these attackers last season in LaLiga and the Champions League.
Although many will say Mbappé needs more time, the Spanish media isn’t one of them, as El Confidencial slammed the Frenchman for his subpar performances.
“Having Mbappé feels like we’ve signed the Pelé of the Cosmos,” the Spanish media outlet noted. “Every match feels like it could be his farewell; we overlook his mistakes because of all he gave us during those incredible summers. In that same game against Villarreal, Vinícius received the ball while surrounded by three defenders just outside the box. With a smooth first touch from his hip, he danced around the defender and set up the ball perfectly.
“In an instant, he fired off a shot where there seemed to be nothing. ‘Goal in the top corner!’ the kids shouted. Moments later, the goalkeeper found out what had happened. It was a beautiful display of technique, quick thinking, and speed, with just the right amount of deception until the very end. That’s the kind of football that flows from players like Vinícius and Rodrygo, while Kylian, at the moment, seems completely dry.
“From the moment Vinícius gets the ball to when he shoots, less than a second goes by. Only a chosen few can do that, and it always seems like the defenders could have done more as if they were tied to a post with invisible strings. Against a genius like that, defenders are left as mere spectators of the disaster.”
