Former Real Madrid player Nicolas Anelka spoke on RMC Sport to analyze Kylian Mbappé’s current situation at La Casa Blanca. Criticized since his arrival last August, the 25-year-old has struggled to meet high expectations but has received support from the former French striker.
As a guest on the show Stephen Brunch, Anelka compared Mbappé’s current challenges to those he himself faced at Madrid between 1999 and 2000. The former forward emphasized that succeeding at Real Madrid, with its demanding environment and high standards, takes time:
“He’s being asked to change clubs, countries, and teammates and become a number 9 in three or four months. That’s not possible. We need to be patient.”
A Role That Requires Adjustment
Anelka also addressed the specific challenge of playing as a number 9, a position Mbappé is still adapting to:
“Everyone thinks it’s easy for a winger to become a number 9, but these are two completely different roles. Mbappé’s game is based on speed and exploiting space, but as a number 9, he often plays with his back to goal and two defenders marking him. This transition takes time.”
The Weight of Psychological Pressure
Analyzing the pressure Mbappé is under, Anelka highlighted similarities to his own experience at Real Madrid at the age of 20. According to him, the current captain of Les Bleus is psychologically affected by the overwhelming expectations:
“He’s under a lot of pressure. I think he’s not in a good place mentally. He needs to work hard and be patient. Real made a long-term investment, not just for six months.”
A Bright Future with Carlo Ancelotti
Despite these challenges, Anelka is confident that Mbappé has what it takes to succeed at Madrid, thanks to his talent and winning mentality. Under Carlo Ancelotti’s expert management, the 2018 World Cup winner could quickly return to top form. His performance against Getafe, highlighted by a brilliant goal and a renewed smile, already hints at brighter days ahead for KM9.
The journey is far from over, but Mbappé appears ready to rise to the challenge, and his supporters eagerly await seeing him shine once again very soon.
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