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Kylian Mbappe has described his penalty miss against Athletic Club as a crucial turning point in his career and an important moment in his adjustment to life at Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappe, who made headlines by joining Los Blancos during the summer transfer window after ending his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, has encountered several challenges as he attempts to settle into his new environment at the esteemed Santiago Bernabeu.
On December 4, during a highly anticipated match against Athletic Club, Mbappe faced a significant setback when his penalty kick was saved by the vigilant goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala.
This unfortunate event represented not only his first miss of the match but also his second high-profile failure within a week, having previously failed to convert a penalty during a Champions League encounter against Liverpool.
These back-to-back misses attracted considerable media attention and criticism, particularly as they coincided with Mbappe’s struggles to adapt to a new role as a centre-forward, a position he has been adjusting to under the guidance of coach Carlo Ancelotti.
In a post-match interview with Real Madrid TV, after the team achieved a 4-2 victory over Sevilla, Mbappe shared his reflections on the hardships he has faced.
“I can do a lot more. I know that I have a lot more in my legs,” he asserted. “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.”
Despite the rocky beginning to his season, Mbappe’s recent performances suggest that he is finally finding his rhythm in Madrid. He has scored in four consecutive matches, bringing his overall tally to an impressive 13 goals and contributing three assists across 23 appearances in all competitions this season.
When discussing the factors contributing to his recent successes, Mbappe emphasized the importance of developing better relationships with his teammates. “I think we’ve gotten to know each other better. I came into the team, and that changed a lot of things”, he said.
“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.”
