Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has asked the club's fans to stand behind them in difficult times, even as he accepted their whistles last Thursday. After Los Blancos threw away a two-goal lead against Celta Vigo in the closing stages, the home crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu were unforgiving in a match that followed a 5-2 defeat to Barcelona.
Los Blancos won 5-2 in extra time itself, but even at the start of the match Aurelien Tchouameni, Ferland Mendy, Carlo Ancelotti and Lucas Vazquez were all whistled by the crowd. When Mbappe scored against Celta, he was seen gesturing with his finger at the fans.
It will come as no surprise that Mbappe was asked what he meant by that.
“That we must all be united. I understand the whistles, no problem, but let's not lose unity. It's that simple. We need everyone to write a new page in history.”
Mbappé noted that his teammates have started to show the necessary personality.
“I'm the type of player who needs this pressure. The feeling that you always have to give more. There were whistles against Celta… but that's normal at a club like Madrid. You always have to win and if you don't win the Super Cup there could be whistles. It's normal. The Celta night was difficult, but we got better by playing with our personality and changing the situation. And this is what the Madridistas want: to play well and win games.”
He was asked about perhaps appearing a bit timid when he joined the club this summer.
“I will never be a shy player, no. But you have to come to Real Madrid with humility because it is a team that has won everything and you cannot come here to demand the ball. Maximum respect. And work. I don't set myself any goals. If I reach 40, 40. But if it's more, more.”
Mbappe admitted the mood was dejected after the Spanish Super Cup final result against Barcelona.
“Very sad. We lost a final to our direct rival. On the plane we were very sad. But we already have the feeling that there is still a lot left. We were ready to focus on the cup and beat Celta, which wasn't easy. The Clasico was a very bad match, but in football you have to change your mentality very quickly. And now, for example, we are already thinking about beating Salzburg.”
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