At a glance
- Despite a stellar 38 goals this season, Kylian Mbappe is underfire at Real Madrid.
- Though his stats are impressive, the Frenchman hasn’t hit the back of the net for his clubs for two months.
- Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals provides the perfect chance to get fans back on his side.
The pressure placed on Real Madrid stars is no better communicated than a furore surrounding Kylian Mbappe.
Most strikers would kill to have netted 38 goals in 36 games this season. Yet still the Frenchman faces the ire of the Los Blancos faithful.
There’s a feeling that he has failed to deliver, and confessions that he doesn’t defend enough don’t help.
Landing at the Bernabeu on a free from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, Mbappe still hasn’t lifted major silverware there.
Sure there’s the Intercontinental Cup and European Super Cup. Yet those type of trophies are an afterthought for a fanbase that demand the big ones.
Rather confusingly, a pocket of it has set a countdown clock for when his contract expires in 2029.
Madridistas want the 16th European Cup, and could care little about him scooping the golden boot for Europe’s top scorer individually.
With FC Barcelona seven points clear, La Liga looks out of reach for a second season running making the Champions League the only salvation for Mbappe and his coach Alvaro Arbeloa.
Bayern Munich stand in Mbappe’s way
Amid not scoring in two months, Mbappe has to rectify poor history against Bayern at the Bernabeu.
He’s never faced them as a merengue. But has an unwelcomed record of five losses out of seven appearances against the German giants.
Three goals and an assist in those meetings are a consolation. Though there’s also the 2020 Champions League final loss in Lisbon to the Bavarians that remains a blemish on his career.
At a time when his manager is being asked if Mbappe “understands” Real Madrid, the number 10 needs to perform.
This is a competition he has never won and needs to go all the way in to be considered one of the greats.
Leading his team to victory in Tuesday’s clash against Bayern is a step towards that, and possibly facing PSG in the last four.
