Fernando Morientes, the legendary former striker for Real Madrid, recently shared his thoughts on his old club and offered a blunt analysis of Kylian Mbappé, the new center forward for the Madrid side.
Morientes, who scored 100 goals in 270 appearances for Real between 1997 and 2005, did not hesitate to highlight the challenges the French forward is facing in his early days with the team.
For football fans from the 90s and 2000s, the name Fernando Morientes is synonymous with class and efficiency. Born in Cilleros, now 48, he joined Real Madrid in 1997 after impressing with Real Zaragoza (79 appearances, 34 goals). In his first season in La Liga, he scored 12 goals, marking the beginning of a memorable career that would see him become a club legend. Today, speaking with that legendary status, Morientes offers a sharp critique of Mbappé’s situation, as he takes on the prestigious number 9 shirt for Real Madrid.
Morientes on Mbappé’s Challenge
At an event organized by La Liga and FC 25, Fernando Morientes, also a former Spanish national team striker (47 caps, 27 goals between 1998 and 2007), gave an honest analysis of Kylian Mbappé’s current situation. While some critics have questioned Mbappé’s performance under coach Carlo Ancelotti, Morientes believes these criticisms stem from the high standards the French star has set for himself, with fans expecting excellence.
“He’s scored 10 or 11 goals in La Liga (actually 9). When I finished my first season at Real Madrid, I had 12 goals in the league and was the team’s top scorer. If that’s considered poor form… The issue with Mbappé is that he has set the bar so high that we always expect perfection from him,” said Morientes, as reported by El Desmarque. He added confidently, “The best of Mbappé is yet to come, I’m sure of it. Madridistas can rest easy.”
A Call for Patience from Fans
With these comments, Morientes urged patience and encouraged Real Madrid fans to trust in their new star. According to him, Mbappé still has plenty of potential to establish himself as a key figure at the club.
Morientes Defends Mbappé’s Early Struggles
For Morientes, former striker for Real Madrid and Valencia, it’s far too early to make definitive judgments about the team’s season, despite some perceived instability on the pitch. The former player emphasized the club’s ability to recover from tricky situations and called for patience.
“I’ve seen critical situations in December that ended in Liga and Champions League victories. It’s in April that everything is decided,” he explained. Morientes also referenced Carlo Ancelotti’s recent comments, stressing the importance of staying in the race: “Ancelotti said that, for now, the goal is not to fall too far behind. Whether you’re first, second, or third, the important thing is to stay within reach. The same applies to the Champions League. But Madridistas can stay calm,” he added confidently.
Optimism for the Future
With these remarks, Morientes reminded fans that Real Madrid has often shown extraordinary resilience in times of doubt, and he is banking on that quality to keep the club competitive in the lead-up to decisive matches.
Currently second in La Liga, just one point behind FC Barcelona, who also have a game in hand, Real Madrid is well-positioned to take the lead in the new year, especially with the return of injured players. As for Mbappé, his recent performances are beginning to meet the high expectations of fans. Already the club’s top scorer this season, the former PSG star looks set to end the year with around 30 goals, provided injuries don’t disrupt his momentum.
A Positive Outlook
With a fully fit squad and Mbappé in top form, Real Madrid have all the tools to reverse the current trend and aim for the top in the months ahead.
