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In a recent interview with El Chiringuito TV, former Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema shared his thoughts on Kylian Mbappe’s current challenges at Real Madrid.
The Al Ittihad forward spoke about how Mbappe, his fellow Frenchman, should approach his role in Madrid and gave insight into the expectations that come with playing for such a high-profile club.
Why is Mbappe struggling?
Benzema believes that Mbappe’s struggle stems from playing in the wrong position. According to him, Mbappe is naturally suited to playing on the left wing rather than as a central striker.
When Mbappe has played as the main centre-forward for France, he hasn’t looked as effective or comfortable, Benzema notes, suggesting it’s not where Mbappe can show his best.
“The problem for me is that Mbappe is not a centre forward. Every time he plays for France as a ‘9’ he is not good, it is not his position,” he began saying.
However, at Real Madrid, the left-wing role is already occupied by Vinicius Jr., who is one of the top players in that position. Benzema points out that moving Vinicius to the right or to a central role wouldn’t work, as Vinicius shines when positioned on the left side of the attack.
“The problem is that on the left there is another player who is at the same level as him… you can’t put Vini on the right or as a centre forward, where he makes a difference is on the left. Let’s see how Ancelotti does that.”
Benzema’s advice
Benzema’s advice to Mbappe is straightforward: adapt to the ‘9’ role and fully embrace it. He emphasises that Real Madrid is not Paris Saint-Germain, where there might be more flexibility and less intense pressure.
Real Madrid expect results constantly, and the pressure is higher, which means that Mbappe has to be ready to perform at his best every single match.
“Mbappe is not a ‘9’. There is a lot of pressure at Real Madrid, this is not PSG. A piece of advice? He shouldn’t give up.”
What should Carlo Ancelotti do?
In addressing Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, Benzema expressed his belief that Ancelotti is unlikely to displace Vinicius from his left-wing position, as he is currently thriving there.
“I don’t think Ancelotti is going to move Vinicius, he’s the best in the world right now in that position.”
This leaves Mbappe in a situation where he must take on the responsibilities of a centre-forward. Benzema stresses that Mbappe needs to accept this and adapt his game to fit the demands of the ‘9’ role, rather than looking for opportunities on the left.
“Mbappe has to get it into his head that he has to be a ‘9’ and forget about the left. He’s been very good on the left and now he has to be good somewhere else.”
Pressure at Real Madrid
Benzema also shared his personal experience to highlight the level of pressure Mbappe will face. He explained that there is no room for error at Real Madrid; fans expect constant results.
“My situation in my first year and Kylian’s is different. I was 21 and he is 25, it’s not the same. He knows that there is a lot of pressure at Real Madrid,” he noted.
Even a brief goal drought could lead to harsh criticism. While Benzema faced similar pressure when he first joined the club, he was younger than Mbappe is now.
“If you don’t score a goal in two or three games, they’ll kill you. He has to learn to live with that. He has to put up with that pressure.”
He advises Mbappe to adjust quickly and learn to thrive under the intense spotlight, as Real Madrid fans have high expectations, and Mbappe’s role in the squad requires him to deliver consistently.
“Every game is new and you have to score goals, they brought him for that and he has the level for it,” he concluded.