Mbappe says mental shift helped change his 'situation' at Real Madrid | Football news

The French superstar has silenced doubters in recent weeks after struggling to settle at the Spanish giants.

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe believes a change in mentality has helped improve his “situation” in the Spanish capital following his initial struggles following his dream move from Paris Saint-Germain.

The French superstar played inconsistently in his first few months in Madrid after joining last summer, but has returned to his devastating best in recent weeks.

“You always have to be calm and focus on your game and what you can improve,” Mbappe told a news conference on Tuesday ahead of Madrid's Champions League clash with RB Salzburg.

“I knew I could change the situation and now the situation has changed.”

Mbappe missed penalties against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao towards the end of 2024. and then admitted that he had “hit rock bottom”.

The 26-year-old has promised to show his personality and overcome his shaky start and has now scored eight goals in his last 10 games in all competitions.

Just when it looked like the pressure of a lifelong dream move to Real Madrid might prove too much for Mbappe to overcome, the French superstar silenced his doubters and now looks at home and ready to wreak havoc as in Spain as well as in Europe.

“It was more mental… I knew I was good physically, good with the team, the group, but I had to do more and I knew it,” continued Mbappe.

“That was the moment to say that now I have to change everything, change the situation, because I didn't come to Madrid to play badly.

“Now everything has changed and I have to keep going because playing well for a month is good, but it's easy.”

During his spell of poor form and while battling a thigh problem, Mbappe was left out of several French squads for the Nations League matches in the final months of last year.

However, the forward said he was looking forward to returning to action with his country.

“There is no problem with the national team… I can understand the criticism (in France),” said Mbappe, who won the World Cup with France in 2018.

“I'm excited to come back in March and try to get to the semi-finals of the Nations League.

My love for the national team has not changed.

🤍🗣️ @KMbappe: “Hello #Madridistas. I'm very happy with the win today, we're the leaders now, we have to keep it up. Halla Madrid!”#RealMadridLasPalmas pic.twitter.com/L9hfZyzsAd

— Real Madrid CF 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 19, 2025

“The adaptation period is over”

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has been patient with Mbappe, often defending the striker and insisting he needs time to adapt to life in the Spanish capital and to integrate with his new team-mates.

The Italian also stuck to Mbappe's positioning, insisting since the start of the season that the French hitman play in the middle, leaving Vinicius Junior to remain on the left flank in his preferred role.

Mbappe and Vinicius struggled to keep up, occupying the same spaces on the pitch at times.

Ancelotti has been pushing for the forward and said at the end of December that Mbappe was bedridden and ready to be at his best after a thigh injury.

“His (adjustment) period, which he obviously needed because everybody needs him, is over,” the coach said.

“Where does Mbappe need to improve?” Just in consistency…trying to do the moves that only he can do as often as possible.

Mbappe's skill and speed have made him unstoppable in recent weeks and he looks more and more confident with each passing game.

Mbappe produced perhaps his best performance for Madrid as he scored a brace against Las Palmas on Sunday to help propel Real to the top of La Liga.

Vinicius was suspended against Las Palmas but will be back in the Champions League and he and Mbappe should continue to develop their partnership.

If Madrid's dynamic duo can find the same wavelength, they will be ready to defend their status as kings of Europe.