‘Unrecognisable’ Mbappe and Real Madrid hurting after European woes

BARCELONA: Kylian Mbappe knows the pressure is intensifying after an unconvincing start to his Real Madrid career and a dismal performance in the Champions League defeat by Liverpool.

With Vinicius Junior facing over three weeks out because of injury, the stage was set Wednesday for Mbappe in his favoured position on the left side of the attack to emerge as the main man for Madrid.

But the France captain endured a brutal night and saw his penalty saved when he had the chance to equalise before Madrid went down 2-0 at Anfield. Coach Ancelotti sought to deflect the blame away from Mbappe, saying: “Only those who take responsibility can miss.”

“This is a difficult moment for Mbappe. We will support him and give him love,” he added. Local media pulled no punches in their description of a player who was supposed to elevate Madrid to an even higher level, coming off a season in which they were crowned Spanish and European champions.

“It´s clear that Kylian Mbappe right now is a shadow of the player he has been these last years,” wrote Spanish sports daily Marca. “Things aren´t going as he wants and the crisis of confidence he´s going through is eating away at him to the point he´s unrecognisable.”

Mbappe´s return of nine goals in 18 games is reasonable, but his inability to influence the big games -- including the 4-0 home Clasico defeat by Barcelona -- has set alarm bells ringing.

“He came for these kinds of evenings... And he didn´t show up. He wasn´t a leader, he didn´t shine. He wasn´t Vinicius, and he continues not to be Mbappe,” was the verdict from Madrid newspaper AS.

England midfielder Jude Bellingham also spoke up in defence of Mbappe and backed the 25-year-old to rediscover the form that compelled Madrid to lure him away from Paris Saint-Germain.

“Kylian can keep his head high. I know for sure that he will produce many more moments that are huge for this club,” said Bellingham. “There is a medicine, which is to be patient,” said Ancelotti. “This is temporary. He´s an extraordinary player and the goals will come.”

Neighbours Getafe make the short trip to the Bernabeu on Sunday and should be ideal opponents for Madrid having won only one of 16 away games in the league dating back to last year. Despite three losses in five Champions League outings, Madrid are just four points back of Barcelona with a game in hand.

Barcelona surrendered a two-goal lead in the absence of Lamine Yamal last weekend to draw at Celta Vigo, but Hansi Flick´s side shrugged off that setback in midweek with a 3-0 win over Brest in Europe.

The league leaders host 17th-placed Las Palmas on Saturday while Atletico Madrid, in third, go to bottom side Real Valladolid. Only Robert Lewandowski has scored more goals in La Liga this season than the Croatian forward who has accounted for eight of Osasuna´s 19 goals.

He struck twice in the shock 4-2 win over Barcelona in September and got both goals in last weekend´s 2-2 draw with fourth-placed Villarreal. Budimir, who intially arrived on loan from Mallorca in October 2020, netted a career-best 17 times last season and is on pace to better that this term at the age of 33.