- Mbappé missed a penalty in Real Madrid’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool.
- The French star returned to his favorite position but failed to impress at Anfield
- Liverpool correspondent LEWIS STEELE tells all in explosive chat with Mo Salah – LISTEN NOW It’s all starting! New episodes every Monday and Thursday.
Spanish media have claimed Kylian Mbappe is a symbol of Real Madrid’s current woes after the striker suffered a “nightmare” in the Spanish giants’ 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday night.
Mbappe struggled to make an impact on the game at Anfield, and Real Madrid’s star summer signing continued to endure a difficult start in the Spanish capital.
The 25-year-old has scored just two goals since joining Real Madrid in a highly anticipated move this summer.
Mbappé had the chance to equalize from the penalty spot that night for Los Blancos after Alexis Mac Allister had put Liverpool ahead, but the striker saw his penalty saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Mohamed Salah also missed a penalty for Liverpool, but a Cody Gakpo strike in the 76th minute ensured Arne Slot’s side took all three points.
spanish newspaper brand He highlighted how the game at Anfield was an opportunity for Mbappé to thrive in his favorite position, with Vinicius Jnr ruled out through injury.
The Spanish media claimed that Kylian Mbappé had a “real nightmare” against Liverpool at Anfield
Mbappé saw a penalty saved when they trailed 1-0 and Real Madrid ultimately suffered a 2-0 defeat.
Mbappé was called a “shadow of what he is supposed to be” by the Spanish newspaper Marca
His performance was described as a “true nightmare”, and the newspaper stated that his performance would have confirmed the opinion of the Real Madrid coaching staff that Vinicius Jr. is the best option for the position.
‘The French star lived a true nightmare against Liverpool, the best defense in the Premier League, to end up completing a match that will take a long time to forget,’ journalist Juan Ignacio García-Ochoa wrote in Marca.
And if before what happened in this match the coaching staff had no doubts about who should be the owner of Madrid’s left wing, Mbappé’s performance ended up passing the sentence.
“Erratic in passing, in controls and with confidence so diminished that it seemed difficult for anything to go well.”
The defeat leaves defending champions Real Madrid in a precarious position in the revamped Champions League.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side languish in 24th place in the 36-team league stage after suffering their third defeat in five games.
Real Madrid is clinging to the last place in the Champions League play-off with three games left in the league phase.
Mbappé was seen as a reflection of Real Madrid’s current problems in big games this season.
Mbappé failed to shine at Anfield in the absence of fellow Real Madrid star Vinicius Jnr.
The Spanish giants were thrashed 4-0 at home by rivals Barcelona last month, while they suffered Champions League defeats to Lille, AC Milan and Liverpool.
“Madrid continues to offer very little in important games this season,” Marca wrote. “And the reflection of this situation is the face of Kylian Mbappé, a player who is a shadow of what he is supposed to be.
‘The Frenchman missed a penalty at 1-0 that would have put Madrid in the game, although his mistake from the penalty spot was the least of it.
“Without Vinicius, on the night when he was most expected, he played a calamitous game.”
Ancelotti came to Mbappé’s defense after the match, and the Real Madrid coach insisted that he must be patient with the forward.
‘It has happened many times that forwards have a hard time scoring. There is a medicine that is patience,” Ancelotti said.
“It’s a difficult moment for him, especially after missing the penalty. Everyone has to support him.”
He added: “He may lack a little confidence.” When things don’t go the way you want, the idea you have to have is to play simply.
“It’s a bit like this moment, but you can’t judge him for missing a penalty. All players miss penalties. He has to continue working well. We have to be patient because he is an extraordinary player.”
