Real Madrid’s gaffer, Xabi Alonso, is singing the praises of star striker Kylian Mbappé, highlighting the forward’s “leadership” and exceptional individual performance this season, even as the team navigates a rough patch in La Liga. Ahead of a critical clash against athletic Bilbao, Alonso emphasized Mbappé’s significant contributions, both on and off the pitch.
“Kylian has already had a full season here,” Alonso stated during 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. For the rest (titles and individual awards), we will see at the end of the season.”
The French sensation has been on fire, racking up an remarkable 23 goals for Real Madrid this calendar year. his scoring prowess is evident in La Liga, where he’s netted 14 goals in 14 appearances, and in the Champions League, with nine goals in five matches, including a stunning quadruple against Olympiakos. With 53 goals already in 2025, Mbappé is on pace to challenge Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 59 goals set in 2013.
“The month of November did not go as hoped”
Alonso stressed that Mbappé’s impact extends beyond his goal-scoring heroics. “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,” the coach explained.
Real Madrid, currently sitting second in La Liga with 33 points, is feeling the heat after a third consecutive draw against Girona (1-1). This slip-up allowed rivals FC Barcelona (34 points) to reclaim the top spot. The team faces a must-win situation on Wednesday against Athletic Bilbao in a rescheduled match from the 19th round.
Despite the recent string of disappointing results, Alonso remains confident in his squad’s ability to turn things around. “It’s only December. The season is still long. It is clear that the month of November did not go as hoped (only one victory in five matches), 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 asserted.
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