Kylian Mbappé Defends His Defensive Efforts Ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League Clash

Kylian Mbappé pushed back against criticism targeting his defensive contributions before Real Madrid’s Champions League opener against Inter Milan. While the forward acknowledged that both he and the team need to improve their performance without possession, he refused to accept that the burden should fall solely on him and Vinícius Júnior.

During Monday’s pre-match press conference, questions arose comparing Mbappé and Vinícius to players like Ousmane Dembélé and Raphinha, who have received praise for their defensive work off the ball. Mbappé challenged this comparison, emphasizing the differences in roles and strengths among these forwards and pointing out that defensive duties require collective effort.

Rejecting Sole Blame

Mbappé expressed surprise at the focus on just himself and Vinícius when discussing the team’s pressing:

“Only me and Vini?”

He then lightened the mood by highlighting his goal-scoring record:

“I can play the fool and tell you that I score more goals than the two you mentioned, and that they have to score more goals to be like me. Everyone is different.”

Admitting Room for Growth

The forward agreed there is room for improvement in defense but rejected judging his game by direct comparison with others:

“Of course we have to improve, we have to improve. And I think it’s completely natural how each player is.”

“I want to do things intelligently and say that, of course, I have to improve and all that. But I don’t like to compare because I think I do many things that others don’t.”

Collective Defensive Responsibility

Mbappé widened the conversation beyond just the attackers, stressing the importance of the whole squad contributing defensively:

“But I agree that, of course, I and all the Real Madrid players have to improve in this aspect to help the defense and so that we can get fewer chances and fewer goals.”

This frames the defensive progress needed as a team-wide issue rather than falling on the shoulders of a few forwards.

Improving Through Ball Control

He also pointed out that better control of the ball could ease defensive pressure and create more scoring opportunities:

“But I also think that we need to manage things better with the ball to create more scoring opportunities.”

The Demands of a Top Club

Speaking on the ongoing challenge of playing at an elite level, Mbappé said:

“That’s the life of a top-level team that wants to be the best in the world. There are many things you have to improve every day, and that’s just how it is.”

Looking Ahead to Champions League Opener

Real Madrid will face Inter Milan in their first match of the Champions League group stage. Mbappé remains a crucial attacking force for the club. Although discussions around his work off the ball continue, his statements make clear he accepts the need for growth but sees defensive duties as a shared responsibility across the team.