Mbappe thrives with Real Madrid: The value of the new leader

After a peaceful summer after many years, with increased dressing room power, Kylian Mbappe confidently led Real Madrid to conquer the Champions League.

Peaceful summer

Kylian Mbappe has just had his first relatively quiet summer after 5 turbulent years with rumors, pressure, and decisions related to his future.

That was reflected on the pitch. Mbappe has put behind him the erratic moments of his first season with Real Madrid – despite scoring 44 goals and winning the Golden Boot.

Mbappe just had the most peaceful summer. Photo: EFE

Now, he enters the new Champions League with a clear goal: to win the European silverware.

Mbappe won the World Cup with France, but left PSG without ever lifting the Champions League. More importantly, as soon as he left, the Paris club won that title.

It was the physical and mental rest, the desire to touch the European Cup, or even the unexpected incident from a virus that explained Mbappe's change this past summer. Change and release.

For the past four summers, Mbappe has been caught in the media storm and unable to escape throughout the year.

In August 2021, everyone believed he would go to Real Madrid. “Los Blancos” made an offer that was hard to refuse, Mbappe constantly urged PSG.

However, Paris – through then-Sports Director Leonardo – even asked UEFA to punish Real Madrid for “arbitrarily” approaching their star.

“I asked to leave, I made it clear that I would not renew,” Mbappe shared at the time, leaving open the possibility of leaving for free in 2022.

However, things turned around in the summer of 2022. After weeks of pressure, Mbappe renewed his contract with PSG, leaving Real Madrid feeling betrayed.

He attended the 2022 World Cup, lost in the final to Lionel Messi's Argentina, and lived in constant speculation.

In the summer of 2023, Mbappe fell into a new spiral: with only one year left on his contract, PSG pushed him aside to punish him for refusing to renew.

Mbappe has to train separately, his relationship with coach Luis Enrique is broken, and PSG continues to block his path to Real Madrid.

Mbappe's change in physical condition surprised Alonso. Photo: EFE

Then came 2024: the announcement of a contract with Real Madrid, the club that had just won the European Championship; a disappointing EURO with the French team due to a broken nose; a short summer break because of the European Super Cup.

The whirlwind weeks have added to the season's dismal performance, with the scandal over a short holiday in Sweden adding to the problems.

Viruses and vacations

Only by retracing those summers can one see why Mbappe is so graceful now.

He spent a few days in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, attended a Bad Bunny concert with his close friend Achraf Hakimi, and returned to Valdebebas in a state that surprised Xabi Alonso and the Real Madrid coaching staff .

Previously, at the FIFA Club World Cup, he had acute gastroenteritis, lost 5kg and had limited competition.

“I am optimistic about connecting with Mbappe, to understand more together after what happened at the Club World Cup. Kylian is hungry for football, wants to understand the game, and we need him,” Xabi Alonso explained on September 15.

In addition to praising Mbappe's attitude, Alonso also emphasized something that has been mentioned for many weeks at Valdebebas: "Kylian is one of the leaders of the dressing room" .

Indeed, besides good physical condition, Mbappe's prominence in recent times also lies in his increasingly important role in the team.

This summer, Real Madrid said goodbye to Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez. Dani Carvajal took a step closer to becoming captain, but Mbappe had more say than before.

Mbappe is having a good connection with Guler. Photo: RMCF

“Those leaders must gradually emerge to pull the team forward. Kylian, with his personality, experience and influence, is clearly one of them. When the leadership role is solidified, the team will know who to follow,” Alonso analyzed.

Mbappe entered the Champions League with an unpaid debt. Last season, he only stood out in the big match against Man City in the play-off.

After that, he was silent, not scoring in the round of 16 against Atletico nor the quarter-finals against Arsenal, only disappointment.

Facing Marseille (2am September 17), an opponent he has scored 10 times against, Mbappe is at his best since coming to Real Madrid.

Not only 4 goals after 4 rounds of La Liga, but also because of the sharpness, flexibility in short distance, the ability to connect with the midfield - especially with Arda Guler.

“Playing like this, he is the best player in the world ,” the officials at Valdebebas are confident. A Mbappe ready to lead Real Madrid to conquer Europe.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/mbappe-bung-no-voi-real-madrid-quyen-luc-cua-thu-linh-2442956.html