Kylian Mbappe reveals moment that sparked a turnaround for him at Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe has been in great form for Real Madrid, scoring goals and assisting his teammates, but he has shared what sparked his recent improvement. The French forward promised Madrid fans that he will keep getting better and revealed that a missed penalty earlier this month was a key moment for him.
In Real Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Athletic Club on 4 December, Mbappe missed a penalty while his team was trailing 1-0. This mistake brought heavy criticism of his performances. However, since then, he has turned things around, scoring against Sevilla and assisting in Madrid’s 4-2 La Liga win on Sunday.
Mbappe also scored the opening goal against Pachuca in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final in Qatar, helping Real Madrid win their second trophy of the season. Reflecting on his recent performances, Mbappe admitted that he has more to give and is determined to play with greater personality.
“I can do a lot more. I know I have more in my legs,” Mbappe said. “The game in Bilbao was a turning point for me. I hit rock-bottom when I missed that penalty. It was the moment to realise I have to give my all for this shirt and play with more personality.”
He also spoke about the team’s improvement and his growing connection with his teammates. “We’ve improved in recent months. After the trip to Qatar, we were tired, but we played well and scored good goals. I think the fans will be happy today,” he said. “My adaptation to the team is complete now. I understand my teammates better, and we’re all playing better as a team.”
Mbappe’s missed penalty in Bilbao added to his earlier struggles from the spot, including a miss against Liverpool in the Champions League and a decision not to take a penalty against Getafe. Since the Bilbao match, however, Mbappe has scored six goals in December, showing that he has regained his confidence.
