What if ultimately, Kylian Mbappé was in a hurry to return this Monday to the tranquility of Clairefontaine and a French press that is still rather benevolent about him? Because even a major success in La Liga against Atlético de Madrid (3-2), still with Vinicius Junior and Frederico Valverde as leaders, does not prevent the Spanish press from cheerfully criticizing the captain of the Blues.
Returning from an injury of rather mysterious severity, Tuesday during the Champions League qualification at Manchester City (1-2), the essential top scorer for Real Madrid this season (38 goals in 34 games) this time came into play on Sunday in the 64th minute of play in place of Thiago Pitarch (18 years old), at 2-1 in favor of his team. He took the opportunity to touch 26 balls, without particularly highlighting himself in front, as had already been the case at the Etihad Stadium.
Barely involved despite Valverde’s expulsion
The Madrid daily AS thus lit it, by the pen of its editorialist Tomas Roncero: “He did nothing other than stroll on the lawn of the Bernabeu. He is capable of scoring tons of goals, but for 25 minutes, he absolutely did not press Atlético’s attacks, despite the numerical inferiority, which displeased the fans. Because if the question of his defensive involvement is a regular subject of controversy concerning Kylian Mbappé, the expulsion of Frederico Valverde in the 77th minute of play had a magnifying glass effect here.
“He presses as usual, that is to say he does nothing”, regrets the show for its part Sports Carousel on Cadena SER radio. The presenter of the indescribable show El Chiringuito, Josep Pedrerol, went even further on Sunday evening: “With Arbeloa, it’s another Real Madrid. The team runs and fights, it is a committed, united Real. It’s a shame that he finished with nine players, without Valverde… and without Mbappé.”
“Arbeloa almost lost La Liga if he puts Mbappé back”
Bim bam boom, we can score wagonloads of goals in the merengue jersey and take carotid tackles from the week of resumption with the group, in a joker role, and this in an eminently positive period for the club, which is clinging to 4 points behind Barça in the championship. AS develops a feeling which seems very present in the bays of Santiago Bernabeu, as at the Parc des Princes before.
“Kylian is incredibly talented, but he lacks the empathy necessary to understand what this club needs to create a real connection with him and win the hearts of Madrid supporters,” said Tomas Roncero. “Vini” can make mistakes, but he makes them with heart. Kylian is so detached in his actions that the Bernabeu public no longer knows what to think of him. He must rethink his attitude, and his friend Vinicius showed him the way. »
Our file on Kylian Mbappé
The last word is for Josep Pedrerol, not the type to struggle when it comes to launching a take extreme which will ignite the Real galaxy: “Arbeloa has almost lost La Liga if he puts Mbappé back in the starting position”. That the pre-match press conference in the United States will seem sweet to the former Parisian on Wednesday.
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