Kylian Mbappe admitted that his penalty miss against Athletic Club marked a turning point in his career and helped him adjust to life at Real Madrid.
The French forward has had difficulty adjusting to his new role at the Santiago Bernabeu since joining Los Blancos in the summer after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired.
On December 4, Mbappe saw his penalty saved by Athletic Club goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala, marking his second high-profile miss in a week after a similar failure against Liverpool in the Champions League.
The back-to-back misses attracted widespread criticism, especially as Mbappe has struggled to adapt to a new centre-forward role under coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Speaking to Real Madrid TV (via ESPN) after scoring in the team’s 4-2 victory over Sevilla on Sunday, Mbappe reflected on the impact of those tough moments.
“I can do a lot more. I know that I have a lot more in my legs. In the last few games, I’ve played better. The game in Bilbao was good for me. I hit rock bottom; I missed a penalty. It was the moment to realise that I have to give my all for this shirt and play with more personality,” the 26-year-old stated.
Despite the rocky start, Mbappe’s recent performances suggest he is finding his footing in Madrid. The forward has scored in four consecutive matches, taking his tally to 13 goals and three assists in 23 appearances across all competitions this season.
Explaining the reasons behind his resurgence, Mbappe acknowledged that familiarity with his teammates has been key.
“I think we’ve gotten to know each other better. I came into the team, and that changes a lot of things. But now, as [Carlo Ancelotti] has said, my adaptation has finished, and I feel good. We can see on the pitch that I understand my teammates better, and the whole team is playing better,” he said.
Mbappe’s contributions have been crucial, but he continues to operate in the shadow of Vinicius Junior, who has flourished in Mbappe’s preferred left-wing position.
Nevertheless, the French star’s recent displays indicate he is becoming an integral part of Ancelotti’s plans as Real Madrid aims to contend on multiple fronts this season.
