Kylian Mbappe credits crucial penalty miss against Athletic Club for upturn in form at Real Madrid - 'I hit rock bottom'
Updated 22/12/2024 at 21:11 GMT
Kylian Mbappe has credited a penalty miss against Athletic Club at the start of December for changing his mentality and improving his form after scoring in Real Madrid's 4-2 win over Sevilla. The Frenchman has struggled for consistency on the pitch under huge scrutiny, but has netted six goals in December as Madrid finish the year just two points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid.
Highlights: Duran, Rogers add to Man City’s misery as champions lose again
Video credit: TNT Sports
Kylian Mbappe acknowledged that hitting "rock bottom" after missing a vital penalty for Real Madrid earlier in the month helped him improve his form.
A 2-1 defeat to Athletic Club on December 4 saw Mbappe miss a penalty while 1-0 down in Bilbao, with criticism of the star forward's form getting louder and louder.
Mbappe has been subject to huge scrutiny in a Madrid shirt, following his move from Paris Saint-Germain, while the club have struggled for consistency on the pitch in the first half of the season.
But the Frenchman scored against Sevilla and set up another as Real Madrid enjoyed a 4-2 victory in La Liga on Sunday.
It comes after he scored the opening goal against Pachuca in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final in Qatar, where he won his second trophy for the club.
"I can do a lot more," Mbappe said. "I know that I have a lot more in my legs. In the last few games I've played better.
"The game in Bilbao was good for me. I hit rock-bottom; I missed a penalty. It was the moment to realise that I have to give my all for this shirt and play with more personality."
- 'Why wouldn't you bring him on?' - De Bruyne absence branded 'strange'
- 'We struggle to score and we concede goals' - Guardiola attempts to explain latest loss
- 'So obvious' - Spurs fans 'frustration' with Postecoglou explained by Crouch
His failure from the spot in the loss to Athletic followed another penalty miss against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League, and days after he turned down the chance to take one against Getafe.
But since that defeat, the No. 9 has delivered more consistently, scoring six goals in December.
"We've improved in recent months," Mbappe said. "It was a difficult game, we were a bit tired after the trip to Qatar. But we did well, from the start, scoring good goals, playing on the front foot. I think Madrid fans will be happy today.
"I think we've gotten to know each other better," he added. "I came into the team and that changes a lot of things, but now, as [manager, Carlo Ancelotti] has said, my adaptation has finished and I feel good. We can see on the pitch that I understand my team-mates better, and the whole team is playing better."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/12/10/4071187-82561388-2560-1440.jpg)
Highlights: Bellingham fires Real Madrid to victory against Atalanta after Mbappe injury
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ancelotti concurred with his star striker, noting that his side have "gone back to doing things well.
"It's been demanding for the squad, but little by little, the team, and Mbappe too, have got back to doing things well. We're excited about 2025," he said in his post-match news conference.
"After the defeat against Milan we sorted things out in the dressing room, speaking clearly," the Italian added. "We've fixed it ... We still have some frailty, without [Dani] Carvajal, without [Eder] Militao, without [David] Alaba, so we've tried to strengthen our qualities, in attack."
Madrid will spend the Liga Christmas break a point behind Atletico Madrid in the table, and two ahead of Barcelona despite suffering a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Hansi Flick's charges earlier in the season.
---
Stream the 2024-25 Premier League live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?