Thierry Henry has questioned Kylian Mbappe’s appetite to embrace the number nine role he has been handed at Real Madrid.
Mbappe again looked out of sorts as Madrid lost 3-1 at home to Milan in the Champions League last night.
The France captain, who moved to the Bernabeu in the summer from Paris Saint-Germain, prefers a role on the left of a front three but that is already occupied by Vinicius Jr, meaning Mbappe has to play down the middle.
He had eight shots against Milan, three on target, but it was his lack of movement that caught Henry’s eye, especially when compared to Jude Bellingham.
Speaking on CBS Sports, he said: “I think the team is frustrated with him, which I can understand. We have to give him time but at the same time he must learn to play as a number nine, have the desire and will to project himself.
“Bellingham is trying to do what his number nine, Mbappé, is supposed to do. It is almost always Bellingham who tries to make the runs, to make the team play.”
Thierry Henry brilliantly breaks down a major issue Real Madrid have faced recently, how Kylian Mbappe needs to improve and why Carlo Ancelotti is the man who can fix things. pic.twitter.com/2sQAHYDttK
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) November 6, 2024
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There is frustration – Henry
As Henry watched clips of Mbappe, he became more frustrated, adding: “Who is running and trying to get to the goal? It’s Bellingham, not your number nine. There is frustration. Look at the number nine! Once again, your number nine is not there. I know it can happen sometimes, but it can’t be all the time.
“That’s what I’m trying to say. I know he’s not a number nine and that’s not what he likes to do, but do you think Bellingham likes to make these runs? To stretch the team? He does it because the desire and the will speak for themselves.
“It is not good enough.”
Ancelotti starting to feel the heat
It was a dismal night all round for Madrid with the defending European champions having now lost two of their first four Champions League games.
The pressure is starting to mount on coach Carlo Ancelotti with the defeat coming 10 days after they were hammered 4-0 at home by Barcelona in El Clasico.
The Italian said: “Suffering unites you more. Now it’s our turn to take a step forward, because this is everyone’s responsibility. It will be a long night, but that’s fine, it’s time to reflect and look for solutions.
“To achieve that, no-one washes their hands of the situation. When we win, we all do it; when it comes to suffering, too.”
