Real Madrid’s problems continue, and so does Kylian Mbappe’s less-than-ideal start in the Spanish capital. Los Blancos lost to Milan in the Champions League, which came not long after the El Clasico defeat to Barcelona. Los Blancos have now fallen behind Barcelona in La Liga, while also floundering in the Champions League. It was expected that there would be growing pains now that Kylian Mbappé will take over the team from Paris Saint-Germain this season, but the balance in the team is not there.
Finding the best combination of players to fit together is a tough job for Carlo Ancelotti, but it’s a job he must get to the bottom of if Real Madrid are to win back-to-back Champions League titles. CBS sports analyst Thierry Henry elaborated on one of the problems facing Los Blancos.
‘It’s almost always [Jude] Bellingham trying to score points lets the team play. He’s still the one trying to break the boundaries. Who’s running and trying to cross the finish line?” Henry said. ‘It is Bellingham who does Mbappe’s job. This may happen from time to time, but not always. Do you think Bellingham likes to make these runs to expand the team? He does it because he has the desire and the will to do it.”
Last season Bellingham, playing for Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, had to be the player making late runs into the penalty area as there was no recognized striker. He did that with great success, scoring 23 goals and providing a further eleven assists, but this season things are different. Mbappe was appointed to lead the retention side, but he is leaning towards the left side where Vini Jr is in control.
Another Real Madrid legend, Karim Benzema, has already said that Mbappé must forget about the left wing and focusing on playing the nine, and that adjustment will pay off for Real Madrid if that happens. It’s a great skill that Bellingham can make those runs into the box, but it shouldn’t be something he has to do all the time.
Mbappe won’t be a nine who is strong in hold-up play, but with his devastating pace and finishing skills, Madrid should be able to get more out of him when he leads the attack.
“You don’t win games like that. You don’t win games if you break the line ten, come back, try to bend his lead, try to defend, try to go the other way. And then he is substituted.” ?” Hendrik continued. “I would have been upset too. I saw him kick a bottle. Of course I would be upset too. For me this is not good enough and I don’t think they are playing well as a team, but also with the ball.” [Mbappe] needs to do a lot more.”
When you sign the number 9 at Real Madrid, expectations rise and while Mbappe has had opportunities, he is not doing enough of them. Combined with Rodrygo also dropping out of the XI, Ancelotti is still mixing and matching players to find out who can perform. Even Fede Valverde was taken off midway through Madrid’s match against Milan, something that would have been unthinkable last season, but it shows the need and eagerness to mix things up.
It’s too early to drop Mbappe from the XI, but if they continue down this route, drastic measures may have to be taken. No one is above a spell on the bench and that could be what Mbappe needs to start performing like the nine he can be.