Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé said on Tuesday that a shift in mentality helped him improve his situation in the Spanish capital after initially struggling following his dream move from Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappé endured inconsistent form during his first months at Madrid after joining last summer, but in recent weeks he has returned to his devastating best.
“You always have to be calm and focus on your game and what you can improve,” Mbappé said during a news conference ahead of Madrid’s Champions League clash with RB Salzburg on Wednesday.
“I knew that I could change the situation, and now the situation has changed.”
The Frenchman missed penalties against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao towards the end of 2024 and admitted at the time he had “hit rock bottom.”
The 26-year-old promised to showcase his personality and overcome his shaky start.
Since then, he has scored eight goals in his last 10 games across all competitions for Madrid.
“It was more of a mental thing… I knew I was good physically, good with the team, the group, but I had to do more, and I knew it,” Mbappé continued.
“It was more of a mental thing… I knew I was good physically, good with the team, the group, but I had to do more, and I knew it,” Mbappé continued.
However, the talisman expressed his eagerness to return to action with the national team.
“There’s no issue with the national team… I can understand the criticism (in France),” said Mbappé, who won the World Cup with France in 2018.
“I’m excited to return in March and try to reach the Nations League semi-finals. My love for the national team has not changed.”
