Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe had another night to forget
Kylian Mbappe has issued an apology after missing another penalty in a Real Madrid defeat.
Real suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat at Athletic Club on Wednesday night to slip four points behind Barcelona at the top of La Liga. It was another difficult night for Mbappe, who is yet to win over the club’s demanding supporters since his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
Athletic took the lead when Thibaut Courtois parried Inaki Williams’ cross into Alejandro Berenguer, who bundled the ball over the line. Real were gifted the chance to equalise when Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala caught Antonio Rudiger while trying to punch clear a cross in the penalty area.
Mbappe took his time with the run-up to his penalty, but telegraphed his side-footed effort to the goalkeeper’s left and Agirrezabala pushed it away comfortably. It was almost a carbon copy of the penalty which Caoimhin Kelleher saved in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League last week.
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It was to prove costly once again. Jude Bellingham equalised by scoring from a rebound after Agirrezabala parried Mbappe’s long-shot into his path, but a mistake by Fede Valverde allowed Gorka Guruzeta to slot past Courtois and give the home side a 2-1 win.
Taking to Instagram after the match, Mbappe felt compelled to apologise, writing: “Bad result. A big mistake in a match where every detail counts. I take full responsibility for it. A difficult moment but it's the best time to change this situation and show who I am.”
Mbappe has 10 goals and two assists in 19 appearances for Real so far this season, but is yet to explode into the world-class striker they thought they had signed on a free transfer from PSG. Real manager Carlo Ancelotti felt compelled to defend his star striker after another poor display.
Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe has now seen successive penalties saved ( Image: Cesar Ortiz Gonzalez/Getty Images)
“We have to give him time to adapt,” he said. “He's scored 10 goals already and he's doing all he can to improve. It's part of football and the two of them have spoken. He took the responsibility and stepped up but it didn't go to plan, but that's football and these things happen.”
Asked about Valverde after his error led to the winning goal, Ancelotti added: “Valverde is down and disappointed, as is Kylian. He made a mistake but we shouldn't dwell on it. It's an error, they happen in football and we have to look ahead to the next match.”
The Real boss also hinted that a different player could step up for the next penalty. “Vinicius is usually the one who has been strong from the spot for us,” Ancelotti explained. “We have three penalty takers: Vinicius, Mbappe and Bellingham.”
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