'Mediocre and insufficient': The criticism that has followed Mbappe to Real Madrid

Just two months after Kylian Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid, the initial excitement has waned. Although he made an impact with a brace against Betis, marking his first goals of the season, his current form is a far cry from what the superstar is known for.

This issue, which began last year during his final season with Luis Enrique's PSG, has also affected his performances with the French national team. This was evident during the recent Nations League break, when he faced a torrent of criticism from his home country.

In France’s two games so far — a loss to Italy at the Parc des Princes and a win over Belgium, where Mbappe was a substitute — he was active but lacked impact. He moved across the field without contributing significantly to his team's play.

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Former French footballer Bixente Lizarazu, now an analyst for French news outlet L'Equipe, has been a vocal critic of Mbappé. He condemned the French star’s comments in the press conference following the match against Italy, labeling them as "inappropriate."

The quote in question? "I don't know what they (teammates) think because we haven't talked about it. I've reached a stage in my life and my career where I don't notice it anymore, I come, I play, I try to do my best, I try to help the team. What people think is the least of my worries."

"These were not the words of a leader, much less a captain. You cannot be insensitive to the feelings of your country's supporters, to the frustrations they harbour and the questions they have. You have to try to answer them, that is part of the emotional bond you have with your audience," Lizarazu wrote in the French daily.

"Maybe he's less composed and more tense than usual because the search for the best footballing version of himself takes time. Mbappe is no longer as explosive and decisive as before. He's still a very good finisher and a good player, but he no longer inspires as much respect as before," he added.

Journalist Grégory Schneider, writing for L'Equipe, also criticized Mbappe harshly: "He is a shadow of the player he was at the 2022 World Cup. What happened? Did he stop working? No. Does he care? No. Is he injured? It doesn’t seem so. We need to understand why," he remarked.

"He plays every game and Real Madrid pushes him to perform at full speed, so something must be causing his decline in form at 25 compared to when he was 24. It’s illogical to attribute this to an injury in football. There’s clearly an issue to address. I’m not passing judgment, but it's important to understand what’s going on and proceed with caution until it’s clarified," he added.

Another major French media outlet, RMC Sports, was equally critical of the Real Madrid star, calling him "the lost captain" after the match against Italy. They also posed a crucial question: "Will we ever see the real Mbappe again?"

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In France, there has been ongoing debate about whether Mbappe should play as a central striker ('9'), a role he was used in by Luis Enrique and is currently played in by Didier Deschamps and Carlo Ancelotti. Recent form suggests that this may not be the best position for him.

Evaluating his qualities as a footballer, the French striker does not excel in key aspects of a center forward's role, such as aerial ability, holding off center-backs, or finishing. Instead, he thrives on mobility and space to maximize his game.

"He's a striker who can be in any axial position that suits him, with a lot of freedom. Now, if you expect Kylian to be a pivot... that's not him," said Deschamps in an interview with Telefoot.

Although Mbappe countered his critics and his coach’s views before the match against Italy by claiming, "I can play in all three attacking positions," the reality is that he seems uncomfortable in this role and his current performance contradicts his past statements.

When Mbappe renewed his contract with PSG in 2022, he requested the signing of a center forward to create more space for him. He even used the hashtag #PivotGang on social media to make this point. During a France call-up, he mentioned feeling more comfortable playing alongside Giroud because it provided him with more space.

Last season, Mbappe faced numerous issues at PSG, attributed by many to his announcement of wanting to leave the club and a rumored poor relationship with Luis Enrique. As a result, he was sidelined from pre-season and excluded from several matches by the Spanish coach. Despite this, he delivered the best statistics of his career.

His transition to Madrid has also been challenging. Although he scored on his debut in the Super Cup final, he didn't find the net in the league until the third matchday, a first in his career. So far, he has scored four goals across all competitions this season, his most recent coming on Saturday against Real Sociedad from the spot.

The season still has a long way to go, and it's yet to be seen if Mbapp's move to Real Madrid will help him overcome his current struggles, whether they be sporting or psychological. Both Ancelotti and Deschamps will need to work to restore him to his best form.

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