A star of Paris Saint-Germain’s seven-year project (2017-2024), 26-year-old striker Kylian Mbappé is now Real Madrid’s star striker. Interviewed by Movistar, the French international compared the pressure surrounding his role at Real Madrid to that of the French capital club.
Mbappé: “I’m at the best club in the world, I have to win.”
“The only difference is that this is the best club in the world (Real Madrid, editor’s note). You’ve seen all the players who’ve been there and the titles they’ve won. And you’re the one who puts the pressure on yourself to achieve things. I’m used to pressure from others.”
But you’re the one who says to yourself: I’m at the best club in the world, I have to win, I have to succeed, I have to be an example for my teammates, for the people… It’s pressure you put on yourself, and it’s positive, because it helps you raise your game. To help the team.”
It’s obvious that after Real Madrid’s ten-year reign on the European stage, the pressure is more than ever present for Kylian Mbappé, who arrives with this star status. But unfortunately, he also arrives at a time when Cristiano Ronaldo has left the club after winning four Champions Leagues.
Mbappé won’t be able to do better, but he must do everything he can to at least keep the club at the top of Europe. This is unlike his time at PSG, where he could have made history, and that of French football. That was done without him, and it’s clear that he’s not making any more of a mark on Real Madrid’s history. So the pressure may be greater at the best club in the world, but the result remains the same, as he hasn’t yet advanced beyond the quarter-finals with his new club.
But the striker clearly understood the communication skills needed to score points with Madrid fans, as is often the case. On the Parisian side, we can appreciate a message that could almost imply that there was no “pressure” to succeed and “help the team” at PSG. But that’s probably not what he meant; it was simply a nice way for Madrid.
