The departure of Xabi Alonso from Real Madrid does not translate to continuity or a radical change within the team. Now, tense internal hours are being lived following a disastrous end to the Champions League league phase after a last-minute 4-2 defeat against Benfica.
It’s hard to erase from our minds José Mourinho celebrating wildly after a goal from his goalkeeper in the final minute-something that sent Real Madrid out of the Top 8 and out of direct qualification to the Round of 16 in the competition.
Mbappé breaks his silence
In Lisbon, Portugal, team leader Kylian Mbappé didn’t hide his feelings and offered no excuses. The Frenchman believes the team lacks continuity in both performance and results.
“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. It hurts because we wanted to reach February with some margin to improve, but we deserve the position we’re in,” were Mbappé’s words in the mixed zone after the match.
A brace from Mbappé was not enough at the Estádio da Luz, and he was blunt in pointing to collective errors. “We played badly. After the 3-2, the fourth goal didn’t change anything, but it’s embarrassing that the goalkeeper scores. It’s not normal. The third doesn’t change much either; it just adds more frustration. We were coming off three good-level games and couldn’t sustain it,” he declared.
“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. In the Champions League, every detail counts, and if you’re not prepared to win, it shows.”
What does he say to the fans after this defeat?
The Frenchman asked them not to stop supporting: “I ask the Santiago Bernabéu to support us with passion. We’re not eliminated from the Champions League, and in LaLiga we’re in a good dynamic. If the Bernabéu is with us, we’re going to play a great game on Sunday,” he concluded.
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