Kylian Mbappe has said his “mentality changed” at Real Madrid after December’s La Liga defeat against Athletic Club — a game in which he missed a penalty.
The France international striker failed to convert a penalty while Madrid were 1-0 down in Bilbao as Carlo Ancelotti’s side eventually lost 2-1 on December 4, a week after he had also missed a penalty in a 2-0 Champions League defeat at Liverpool.
Mbappe has scored eight goals in 10 appearances since that loss in Bilbao, with Madrid winning nine of their subsequent 11 matches in all competitions and now at the top of La Liga.
“When you see that you have not helped the team it is normal that it impacts you,” Mbappe said on Tuesday. “Playing here (with Madrid) is a great opportunity for me.
“After the match (at Athletic Club) my mentality changed. I couldn’t do any worse.”
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Mbappe added of criticism of his opening months at the Spanish club following his summer move from Paris Saint-Germain: “When you are a player like me, with everything that was expected of me, it is normal that people talk bad about me.
“I knew I could change the situation and I have changed the situation. I am very happy.”
Meanwhile, Madrid head coach Ancelotti insisted that his future at the club would be decided by president Florentino Perez, who has been re-elected on a new four-year term.
“I want to be very clear: the date of departure from this club is never going to be decided by me in my life,” Ancelotti said.
“I know perfectly well that it will come one day, but the day is not decided by me. It could be tomorrow or in one or five years.
“I have the advantage that Florentino will be here for four more years and I have the goal of reaching them with him. We can say goodbye together.”
Madrid play Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League on Wednesday.
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(Oscar J. Barroso/Anadolu via Getty Images)
