Mbappe hit ‘rock bottom’ after missed penalty at Athletic

Kylian Mbappe says he hit rock bottom with a penalty miss at Athletic Bilbao earlier this month, but used his disappointment as fuel.

The Frenchman left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season as the French club's all-time top scorer, but struggled to adapt to his new surroundings at Real Madrid.

Hamstring and thigh injuries have also hampered his training time, but since missing his second penalty in a week in a 2-1 defeat to Athletic, Mbappe has scored four goals in all competitions, including the opener in the 4-2 LaLiga win of Sunday. above Seville.

In fact, he has now scored six goals in his last eight games in all competitions, taking his season tally to thirteen goals in all competitions, while also providing three assists in 23 games.

“I took a lot of positive things from the game against Bilbao. I reached a low point,” he told Real Madrid TV.

“I missed a penalty and at that moment I realized that I had to give everything for this shirt and play with personality.”

In LaLiga, Mbappe scored ten goals in sixteen games, helping Madrid finish the calendar year in second place in the table, just one point behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

He also scored the opener in their 3-0 win over Mexican side Pachuca as they won the Intercontinental Cup final last Wednesday. In doing so, he became only the third player to score in each of his first two finals for the club in all competitions in the last ten years. , to Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio.

“I can score a lot more, I know I have a lot more to give. I have played better in the last few games,” he added.

“I think we know each other better now. I joined the team and that has changed a lot. The adjustment period is over, the coach says. I feel very comfortable in the team and play better with the team.” others on the field.”

Madrid next travel to Valencia in LaLiga on January 3.

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