Kylian Mbappé broke his silence after Real Madrid’s crushing defeat to Benfica at the Estádio da Luz, a loss that eliminated the Spanish giants from direct qualification and forced them into the European playoffs.
Despite scoring both of his team’s goals, the French star refused to make excuses for what happened, instead sharply criticizing the team’s collective performance. He highlighted a clear flaw from the opening minutes until the final moments, which saw a shocking own goal turn the tide.
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Mbappé emphasized that the start was disastrous, noting that the team appeared far from their usual level and that Benfica completely dominated, deservedly taking an early lead. He explained that Real Madrid capitalized on only one opportunity, but the goal wasn’t enough to restore balance; rather, it increased the team’s confusion on the pitch.
In the second half, Real Madrid tried to mount a comeback, but the lack of pace and clear attacking solutions prevented them from making a difference, especially given their lack of creativity and inability to break down the opponent’s organized defense. As the match drew to a close, the final goal only deepened the wounds, a moment Mbappé described as embarrassing and unworthy of Real Madrid’s name.
According to the Spanish newspaper Defensa Central, Mbappé’s anger wasn’t limited to the overall performance; it extended to one of his teammates. He expressed his deep dissatisfaction with Raúl Asensio due to his poor form and the recklessness that led to his sending off in the final minutes.
The newspaper confirmed that Mbappé demanded that coach Álvaro Arbeloa make a decisive decision: to exclude Asensio from the starting lineup for upcoming matches, sending a clear message that the current stage of the season cannot tolerate mistakes.
