Kylian Mbappe: Why Rock-bottom at Real Madrid Actually Helped Him

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Kylian Mbappe became the third fastest player to reach 10 La Liga goals for Madrid in the 21st century, requiring 16 games, all while adapting to a new position. However, the frenchman faced fierce criticism since the start of his career at Los Blancos, especially after failing to score from the penalty spot, earlier this month. But it was this criticism that has fuelled his rise back to the top. According to Mbappe, hitting 'rock bottom' helped him thrive once again.

"I can do a lot more," Mbappé told Real Madrid TV. "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."

"I think we've gotten to know each other better," Mbappé said, when asked about his upturn in form. "I came into the team and that changes a lot of things, but now, as [coach Carlo Ancelotti] has said, my adaptation has finished and I feel good. We can see on the pitch that I understand my teammates better, and the whole team is playing better."
 

"We've gone back to doing things well," Ancelotti said in his postmatch news conference. "It's been demanding for the squad, but little by little, 

"After the defeat against Milan [on Nov. 5] we sorted things out in the dressing room, speaking clearly," Ancelotti 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."

Mbappe opened the scoring in Madrid's 4-2 victory over Sevilla. Coach Carlo Ancelotti also said that Mbappe's self-criticism had fuelled his Real Madrid rise.

"After the defeat against Milan, we sorted things out in the dressing room by talking very clearly," Ancelotti said.

"Self-criticism has made us clear up what we were lacking, which was a bit of a lack of attitude, of collective commitment, of running a bit more.

"We have gone back to doing things the way we should have done them.

"Mbappe has been self-critical and that's why he has got out of a situation that could have been complicated."

"His adaptation period is over and today he has shown that I, from time to time, am right," Ancelotti said.

"In 2024, I give the team an A+. Last season was fantastic.

"We started (this season) with more difficulty, but we were able to fix the situation in time and there is hope for 2025, but it is difficult to repeat it. We will try."

Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid so far:

• 14 goals

• 4 assists

• 7 MOTM's

• 2 goals in 2 finals

• 3 G/A in 2 finals

• 2 trophies

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SOURCE: times now news