Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has highlighted the multifaceted importance of French forward Kylian Mbappe, describing him as vital to the club not only for his goal-scoring abilities but also for his leadership and influence on the squad.
Mbappe has been in exceptional form this season, netting 23 goals in 19 matches across all competitions. Most recently, he scored four goals in a Champions League clash against Olympiacos, showcasing his clinical finishing and unmatched attacking prowess.
“He’s been very good individually, helping the team a lot,” Alonso said at a news conference ahead of Real Madrid’s La Liga fixture against Athletic Bilbao. “It’s not just about goals for Kylian, which in the end is the most important thing, but he does other hugely fundamental things like leadership, influence, helping his teammates, and that’s so important day to day.”
Okay News reports that Real Madrid currently sit one point behind reigning champions Barcelona, following a third consecutive league draw against Girona. The Spanish media have raised questions about Alonso’s future at the club if the team’s inconsistent results continue.
Alonso admitted that he has held recent discussions with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez regarding improvements in team performance. “The conversations are very positive, in a good tone, wanting to improve the results, and that’s what we’ve spoken about,” he said. He added that inconsistency in the team’s play has contributed to their struggles. “I think we’ve lacked consistency in our game, and we want to play better in the next one. We’ve lost a bit of quality in our play, we’ve lost a little bit of energy.”
