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