Kylian Mbappe believes Real Madrid fans have been right to boo the team lately but said they are wrong to single out individual players as they look ahead to Tuesday’s Champions League clash with his former club Monaco.
After the recent turbulence which saw Xabi Alonso sacked and his replacement Alvaro Arbeloa lose his first game in charge 3-2 to second-tier Albacete, the Bernabeu crowd made their feelings known during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Levante.
But there seemed to be particular antipathy directed towards both Vinicius Junior – following stories suggesting an incident relating to his discipline weakened Alonso’s position at the club – as well as Jude Bellingham, and that disappointed Mbappe.
“I understand the fans,” the France striker said. “Before I was a footballer, I was a young guy who watched the games, and if I wasn’t happy, I’d boo. That’s the only chance Real Madrid fans have.
“I didn’t like that some players were booed more than others. It’s the whole team’s fault. We have the character to change that. Real Madrid fans are angry, but they’re with us.”
He added: “It’s not Vinicius’ fault if we don’t play the way we do. It’s the fault of the entire squad. Real Madrid fans shouldn’t single out one player and boo him alone. We have to change the situation, and we know it. We’re going to do it.”
Alonso’s dismissal has certainly divided opinion, and Mbappe notably said it would not be fair to described the former Madrid midfielder as a failure during his time at the club given he was not given a full season before being sacked.
“To say that Xabi Alonso hasn’t succeeded at Real Madrid is untrue,” Mbappe said. “He left before the titles were decided. Xabi is going to be a fantastic coach. I have a great relationship with him and I wish him all the best.
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“He knows a lot about modern football; it’s a club decision that we have to respect. Now there’s a new coach that we have to support.”
Mbappe goes into the meeting against his old side on nine Champions League goals this season, three clear of Erling Haaland at the top of the charts, but Madrid lost 2-1 to Manchester City last time out in this competition and still have work to do to be sure of automatic qualification.
They trained on Monday morning without the injured Antonio Rudiger, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ferland Mendy and Eder Militao as well as the absent Brahim Diaz, whose late penalty miss proved costly for Morocco in their Africa Cup of Nations final loss to Senegal on Sunday.
However, there was better news with Rodrygo and Andriy Lunin back in the group after injury.
Monaco travel to the Spanish capital still seeking some consistency in an up and down season. They are five unbeaten in the Champions League, but Friday’s 3-1 loss to Lorient made it four straight Ligue 1 defeats.
“We’ll see if (facing) Madrid is the best way to bounce back, but in any case (Friday’s) result isn’t the best to way to prepare for that match,” coach Sebastien Pocognoli said.
“What’s certain is that we’ve already proven in big Champions League and Ligue 1 matches that we’re capable of rising to the occasion.”
