The Real Madrid squad under Carlo Ancelotti failed to impress at Anfield during the 5th matchday of the Champions League.
Missing key players like Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo Goes, and Éder Militão, the team suffered a 2-0 loss to an unbeaten Liverpool side. While the absences undoubtedly impacted the team, one player in particular has borne the brunt of the criticism: Kylian Mbappé.
Starting on his preferred left wing, Mbappé was expected to lead the attack for the weakened Madrid side. However, he disappointed from the outset. In the 4th minute, a naive mistake almost cost Real dearly.
Caught off guard by young Conor Bradley, who was filling in for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mbappé struggled throughout the first half and offered no real threat going forward.
In the second half, the situation worsened. Mbappé continued to make technical errors and failed to influence Liverpool’s defense, significantly hindering Madrid’s offensive play.
The turning point came in the 60th minute when he missed a crucial penalty. Overconfident, Mbappé’s attempt was saved by Liverpool’s backup goalkeeper, marking a rare miss for him in the Champions League.
Sharp Criticism
Journalist Coralie Salle, writing for Le Parisien, did not hold back in her criticism on social media, calling Mbappé’s performance “abominable.”
She pointed out his misplaced passes, lost balls, and inability to make an impact, contrasting his performance with that of Vinícius Júnior, concluding that Mbappé’s influence was non-existent.
A Worrying Situation
This defeat and disappointing display by Mbappé have sparked renewed concerns about his integration into the team and his ability to perform for Real Madrid in crucial moments.
Arriving with high hopes of leading the club to new heights, the French captain now faces growing expectations that he has yet to meet.
