Kylian Mbappé’s struggles continued Wednesday as he missed a penalty in Real Madrid’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool, marking the club’s fifth defeat of the season. While head coach Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged Liverpool deserved the win, he expressed confidence in Mbappé’s ability to overcome his current challenges.
“This has happened before in my career,” Ancelotti said after the match. “As a striker, you want to score. When that doesn’t happen, you can be disappointed with yourself. But the solution is patience. It’s a tough moment for him, and we all need to support him.”
The loss to Liverpool follows a disappointing run for Madrid, who have now lost three of their last five matches. In addition to the defeat to Liverpool, Madrid was beaten 4-0 by Barcelona and 3-1 by AC Milan.
Mbappé, who joined Madrid this summer on what is widely considered football’s most expensive free transfer, had hoped for a dream debut at the Spanish giants. However, his first season has been marred by inconsistent performances, including the penalty miss against Liverpool.
The 25-year-old forward had previously taken a break from France’s Nations League matches in September to recover from a thigh injury. However, his season has also been overshadowed by media speculation surrounding an alleged rape case filed in Stockholm in October, which he has firmly denied.
Ancelotti has repeatedly stated that Mbappé is not distracted by the off-field reports, while the player has called the allegations “false and irresponsible.”
Luka Modric, Real Madrid’s captain, offered his support for Mbappé, acknowledging that the forward’s adjustment to Madrid’s demanding environment would take time.
“It’s never easy to start at Madrid, especially in the first seasons,” Modric said. “But Kylian is a player with a lot of experience, and he’s been one of the best in the world for years. I’m sure he’ll get through this.”
Real Madrid will have an opportunity to bounce back when they host Getafe in La Liga on Sunday.
“Mbappé has our full backing,” Modric added. “He just needs to stay confident and keep working. I’m certain he’ll prove why he’s here.”
