Real Madrid Coach Xabi Alonso Defends Mbappé Amidst Team’s Recent Struggles
BILBAO, Spain – Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso publicly lauded Kylian Mbappé’s “remarkable” individual performance Tuesday, ahead of a crucial La Liga clash against Athletic Bilbao. the vote of confidence comes as Real Madrid navigates a recent dip in form,having drawn thier last three league matches and relinquished first place to FC Barcelona.
Despite the team’s struggles – including a 1-1 draw against Girona on Sunday – alonso emphasized Mbappé’s notable contributions since joining the club. “Kylian has already had a full season here,” Alonso stated at a press conference. “For three months, he has had exceptional individual performance, he has helped the team a lot both in La Liga and in the Champions League. You can clearly see his state of form at the moment.”
Mbappé’s statistics support Alonso’s assessment. The French striker has scored 23 goals for Real Madrid this season, with 14 in 14 La Liga appearances and nine in five Champions League matches, bringing his calendar year total to 53.He is currently six goals shy of cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 59 goals in a calendar year, set in 2013, with six matches remaining.
Alonso also stressed that Mbappé’s impact extends beyond goal-scoring. “but like I said before, the goals can’t all come from Kylian. And his role goes beyond scoring goals. He does many other fundamental things for the team, through his leadership, the way he helps his teammates on a daily basis,” he explained.
Real Madrid (2nd,33 points) faces Athletic Bilbao in an advanced match of the 19th day,seeking to regain momentum. Alonso expressed confidence in his team’s ability to overcome their recent challenges. “It’s only December.The season is still long. It’s clear that the month of november did not go as we wanted (only one victory in five games), but I have confidence in the quality and personality of this group to play well and have the opportunity to fight to win everything in April and May,” he said.
