Kylian Mbappe has acknowledged his difficult start at Real Madrid, stating he takes “full responsibility” for his underwhelming performances following another surprising defeat for the club.
The reigning LaLiga and Champions League champions fell further behind in the title race with a 2-1 loss to Athletic Bilbao, where Mbappe struggled to make an impact.
In a 90-minute appearance on the left wing, filling in for the injured Vinicius Jr., he was easily contained by opposing defenders.
Mbappe’s woes were highlighted by yet another missed penalty, having previously failed to score during Madrid’s disappointing 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League.
This time, the 25-year-old saw his penalty saved by Bilbao goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala while Madrid was down by a goal. He later squandered a prime opportunity when Jude Bellingham set him up, but his weak shot was easily caught.
After the latest league defeat, leaving Madrid four points behind Barcelona, Mbappe addressed his frustrations in an Instagram post to his 122 million followers. He said, “Bad result. A big mistake in a match where every detail matters. I take full responsibility. It’s a tough time, but it’s the best moment to change this situation and show who I am.”
Madrid continues to support the French captain, whose summer transfer has yet to shine, and he has also been dropped twice from the France national team. The club is confident that the former PSG star will eventually fulfill their significant investment, with Ancelotti believing Mbappe will regain his elite form.
His arrival has forced England’s Bellingham into a deeper midfield role, although he has managed to score four consecutive LaLiga goals this season.
Additionally, Federico Valverde made a critical error leading to Bilbao’s second goal and has since apologized for his performance. He stated, “It was a hard blow, but I take the blame. I apologize to my teammates and the fans. I know these things happen in football, but I didn’t want to hold back due to my mistake. There’s still a long way to go, with many competitions ahead, and I’m sure there will be plenty of joys.”