Kylian Mbappe Slams Real Madrid's 'Embarrassing' Champions League Loss to Benfica
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe did not mince words after his team suffered a shocking 4-2 defeat to Benfica in the Champions League, a result that has forced the Spanish giants into the knockout playoffs. The French forward described the loss as "deserved" and expressed deep frustration over the team's inconsistent performance.
Mbappe's Blunt Assessment of the Defeat
In a post-match interview, Mbappe highlighted the most humiliating moment of the game: Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scoring a dramatic header in the eighth minute of stoppage time. "We played badly. After the 3-2, the fourth goal didn't change anything, but it's embarrassing that the goalkeeper scored. It's not normal," Mbappe stated bluntly. He added that the third goal only added to the team's frustration, emphasizing that Real Madrid failed to sustain the form they showed in their previous three matches.
Analyzing the Root Causes of the Loss
When asked to explain the defeat, Mbappe pointed to a lack of continuity in Real Madrid's play. "I don't have a clear explanation. We lack continuity in our play, and that's something we need to fix. A champion team can't perform well one day and poorly the next," he said. He contrasted Benfica's desperate, life-or-death approach with Real Madrid's apparent lack of urgency, noting, "Benfica were playing for their lives and we didn't look like we were playing for ours. That was the big problem of the game."
Consequences and Future Challenges
The loss means Real Madrid, now in ninth place, must compete in the knockout playoffs to advance to the last 16. Interestingly, the bracket setup could pit them against Benfica again, as they can only be drawn against teams that placed 23rd or 24th, which includes Benfica or Bodo/Glimt. Mbappe acknowledged the deserved nature of the defeat, saying, "In football, games start on 0 minutes and not 45 minutes, so in the end the defeat is deserved. I can't say it's not deserved because we didn't play well to win this game."
Calls for Consistency and Improvement
Mbappe stressed the need for greater consistency from the team, highlighting that their performance fluctuated significantly from the previous week. "Last week we played well, and now we didn't. We need consistency. We're missing a bit of everything. I can't say it's just attitude or just football—it's something general," he explained. He warned that in the Champions League, every detail counts, and a lack of preparation is glaringly evident on the field.
The defeat has left Real Madrid with much to ponder as they aim to regroup and prove their mettle in the upcoming playoff matches, with Mbappe's candid critique underscoring the urgency for improvement.
