Kylian Mbappé has attributed a significant improvement in his performance for Real Madrid to a shift in his mindset. After a challenging start to the season with the iconic club, Mbappé is beginning to fulfill the expectations that accompany his esteemed reputation. Following a noteworthy performance in which he scored two goals, Madrid triumphed 4-1 against Las Palmas in La Liga, marking his fourth goal in the last four matches. Reflecting on his earlier struggles, he noted that a defeat to Athletic Bilbao served as a turning point for him mentally.
“After the game in Bilbao, I changed my mentality,” Mbappé stated on Tuesday, as he prepared for an upcoming home clash against Salzburg in the Champions League. “Things couldn’t get any worse. I didn’t join Real Madrid to underperform. Physically, I was fine, so I realized it needed to come from a change in my mental approach.”
Mbappé acknowledged that upon joining the team, he was overthinking his game. “I was focused too much on everything — the tactical aspects, positioning on the field. When you overanalyze, your performance can suffer. Coming to Real Madrid requires a level of humility, especially after they have just won a Champions League. I couldn’t come in and expect everyone to cater to my needs. Respect for the team is essential.”
Real Madrid’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, expressed his satisfaction with Mbappé’s integration into the team and his noticeable improvement. He suggested that the key to overcoming Mbappé’s tendency to overthink was to “return to the basics.”
“When a player struggles to perform at their usual level, they can complicate their game unnecessarily, which is counterproductive,” Ancelotti explained. “The simplest approach often yields the best results.”
Ancelotti also addressed rumors regarding his potential departure from the club at the season’s end, stating, “I will never choose to leave Madrid; that’s not within my control. I’m aware it will happen eventually, but the timeline is uncertain — it could be after tomorrow’s game, or it may take another five years.”
Currently, Real Madrid faces difficulties in the Champions League, having lost half of their matches and sitting at the bottom of their league phase. “We face an uphill battle to secure a top-eight position,” Ancelotti admitted. “However, we will approach any additional games with the same level of commitment. We are accustomed to a demanding schedule.”
Only the leading eight teams in the new format will advance directly to the knockout stage of the tournament.
