Cristiano Ronaldo footage speaks volumes about Kylian Mbappe problem at Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe continues to be the subject of criticism as his early Real Madrid tenure falters, with some pointing out the differences between him and Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo’s admission that he’d play anywhere up top upon arriving at Real Madrid contrasts with Kylian Mbappe's demands.
Mbappe joined Los Blancos in the summer from PSG, finally ending one of the football's longest-running transfer sagas. His move to the Spanish capital promised so much, but as yet the Frenchman has offered very little under Carlo Ancelotti.
The 25-year-old is three games without a goal, having scored seven in his previous eight appearances. But Mbappe has also been critiqued for his attitude at the Bernabeu. The former PSG man has been somewhat shoehorned into Ancelotti's team, forced to play as a central striker.
This has reportedly left Mbappe frustrated and his dedication to the team questioned. With Real Madrid nine points behind Barcelona in La Liga and underperforming in the Champions League, it has led to questions over Ancelotti's future.
Mbappe's complaints are in contrast to Ronaldo, who offered a different perspective when he debuted for Real Madrid in 2009. The former Manchester United man admitted that he wouldn’t demand to be played anywhere and would be happy to offer a versatile option to his new side.
When asked where he’d wish to play at the Bernabeu, Ronaldo answered: “I don’t have a preference. I can play on the left, on the right, or through the middle. For me, it’s not a problem. I just want to play.”
Mbappe, on the other hand, evidently does have a preferred position - and it’s one already occupied by Ballon d’Or runner-up Vinicius Junior. The Frenchman starred off the left hand side in Paris and still does for his national side, where he is able to do very little tracking back and utilise width while having the option of cutting inside.
However, as anticipated before his Madrid arrival, Vinicius has proved difficult to displace, forcing Mbappe to be wedged into the No. 9 position, which has seen him come under fire for a lack of work ethic – despite having scored eight goals in 15 games so far this term.
In his side’s 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Barcelona, Mbappe was caught offside eight times. He also covered the same number of kilometres, something which angered Ancelotti.
"We knew that they [Barcelona] played with a high line, and we just couldn't take advantage of it," Ancelotti exclaimed post-match. "Sometimes [Mbappe] fell offside, but he had three or four chances to score and needed a better finishing touch."
With Real often left lacking defensively due to Mbappe’s sub-par work rate, it isn’t just issues at the back that have been caused by the 25-year-old’s arrival.
As well as Vinicius finding life tough, Jude Bellingham has also supposedly been negatively affected by the forced change in tactics. Where he thrived as a false nine last campaign, notching 19 league goals and being a pivotal piece of their Champions League-winning puzzle, Bellingham is yet to score this term and has not yet adapted to being played in a variety of roles.
Ancelotti will take the brunt of the criticism, but Mbappe’s frustrated arrival and demand to play in a certain position has unbalanced a double-winning side.
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