In the 8th round of the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid lost 2-4 to Benfica in Lisbon. This result proved very difficult for the Madrid side: the team failed to qualify directly for the 1/8 finals and will now play in the additional qualifying round. After the match, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé spoke openly and harshly - he didn't twist his words, hitting both himself and the team with the "truth."
The French star's first statement was very harsh:
"We played very badly...," said Mbappe.
He was particularly clear about the fourth goal scored towards the end of the game. According to Mbappé, the fourth goal conceded at a time when the score was 2:3, did not seriously affect the result, but only exacerbated the situation and intensified the psychological impact:
"The score was 2:3 - the fourth goal scored while we were losing didn't change anything. "It's a bit embarrassing, but it doesn't change anything," he said.
Mbappé cited the lack of stability as the main current problem at Real Madrid. He said that last week the team played several good games, but in the match against "Benfica" he lost both the mood and the quality of the game:
"We had a few good games last week, but it's not like that now. We lack stability."
Most importantly, Mbappe didn't put the problem in one spot. He didn't run away saying "the fault is only in the attitude" or "the fault is only in the tactics," on the contrary, he expressed the opinion that everything depends on each other:
"We're short of everything, little by little... I'm not saying that the problem is only in the relationship or just in the construction of the game. I think this is a complex problem."
Mbappé also noted that there are no small things in the Champions League: every detail is crucial in this tournament. If the "all components" necessary for victory do not work simultaneously, the result will be equally painful.
Despite this, the 27-year-old didn't lose hope. He addressed the fans, urging them to support the team, especially in the upcoming match against Rayo Vallecano. Mbappé tried to lift the fans' spirits by saying, "We haven't left the tournament yet," and reminded them that the situation in La Liga isn't bad either.
"I ask fans to come to the match against Rayo Vallecano with the desire to support the team... If the Bernabeu supports us, a great game awaits us on Sunday," Marca quoted Mbappé as saying.
In conclusion, Mbappé's appearance is not a simple interview - it's a harsh signal that "we must gather ourselves." Real Madrid now faces two tasks: first, navigating the transition period flawlessly, and second, quickly regaining stability and reassuring the Bernabéu.
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