10 goals in someone’s first four months at Real Madrid would be a dream start for many, but not Kylian Mbappe, who arrived with higher expectations. With the Frenchman struggling, his teammates have rallied behind in support. Thibaut Courtois for one, reminded Mbappe that he too, was in the same boat six years ago.
Courtois is untouchable for Real Madrid today, and one of their most important figures behind recent success. But when he joined from Chelsea in 18/19, he was being bombarded with abuse and crumbled under pressure because of his poor performances. Plus, he was tasked with replacing Keylor Navas, who became a fan favorite during the UEFA Champions League three-peat (2016, 2017, 2018).
Nueve. pic.twitter.com/RkXoaOxHfB
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) December 1, 2024
“It’s the same thing that happened to me when I joined. There are times when things simply don’t work out,” Courtois said after Real Madrid’s 2-0 over Getafe on Sunday. “It’s not about wanting less or not making an effort. You have to be calm and keep going,” the Belgian goalkeeper added.
Courtois further stated that all Mbappe needed was a “reference game,” which could turn his season around for the better. That moment might have come in the match against Real Madrid’s city rivals, when Mbappe scored the second goal of the game — a sublime shot into the bottom left corner from outside the box.
“Hopefully today’s goal gives him confidence to score three against Athletic,” Courtois said.
Real Madrid are having a horror season by their standards. 24th in the Champions League is hardly where they want to be, and it is absolutely crucial for them to avoid any further slip-ups in Europe. In La Liga, on the other hand, things are not so bad, despite their 4-0 thrashing at the hands of FC Barcelona.
Real Madrid are just one point behind leaders Barca, with a game in hand, which is why the tie against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night will be absolutely crucial.
Fortunes change so quickly in LaLiga 🤯 pic.twitter.com/NslX2K0VeT
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) December 2, 2024
Once again, the focus of this clash will be Mbappe, who will start on the left wing for certain, given Vinicius’ absence due to injury. After a decent showing against Getafe, Mbappe will look to add more to his tally and have a better game overall. He missed several chances against Azulones, something he will look to avoid midweek.
In La Liga, Mbappe has scored 8 goals, but it’s not just the number of goals that define him. His runs, passes, and dribbles have been sub-par. But it is safe to assume that it is a matter of when, not if, he will return to full form.
