Frank Christian
Jude Bellingham offered support to Kylian Mbappe following a disappointing performance by the French forward during Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Real Madrid at Anfield.
Mbappe’s struggles were highlighted by a missed penalty when the score was 1-0, as he was closely marked by Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate.
With Vinicius Junior sidelined due to injury, expectations were high for Mbappe to shine in his preferred left-wing position. However, he underperformed as Liverpool secured their win with goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo.
Steve McManaman, a former winger for both clubs, criticized Mbappe for not stepping up in a critical moment when his team needed a leader in the absence of multiple injured players.
He remarked on TNT Sport, “They relied on him tonight. With Vinicius and other key players missing, he needed to rise to the occasion. Instead, he fell short.” He elaborated, saying that the Madrid media would be harsh in their assessment of Mbappe’s performance.
Kylian Mbappé’s first 1,500 minutes of competitive football in a Real Madrid shirt has been… underwhelming? pic.twitter.com/qDjJMaoAei
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) November 27, 2024
Despite the criticism, Mbappe’s teammates quickly rallied around him. Bellingham emphasized that the missed penalty wasn’t the sole reason for their loss, acknowledging it was a crucial moment but part of the game’s nature.
“It’s a significant moment, yet it can occur. Kylian is an incredible talent, and the weight of expectations is immense,” he explained to BT Sport. “The penalty alone didn’t determine our fate. As a team, we weren’t up to par. Kylian should hold his head high; many more great moments await him at this club.”
He also recognized that Liverpool controlled the match from the outset, leaving Real Madrid unable to take full advantage of their possession, which he found disappointing.
Luka Modric shared his thoughts with Movistar, stating that Mbappe is “training well and has confidence,” expressing optimism that things will soon align for him.
He added, “Sometimes things don’t go as planned, like with the penalty today. However, we believe in him, and I’m confident Kylian will come through for us.”
