Mbappé Is Squandering Chances At Real. But Endrick Needed Just One Shot

The "Whites" thrashed Valladolid, but this victory left a bitter aftertaste.

Looking at Real Madrid’s lineup before the start of the season, it seemed the team was destined for success. After all, last season, despite numerous injuries, the "Whites" won La Liga and the Champions League. It seemed that Real would be even stronger this time without all those difficulties. Adding one of the generation's best players, Kylian Mbappé, only strengthened that confidence.

But after the first three matches of the season, instead of joy, there is a bitter aftertaste. It seems Mbappé brought not only his talent to Madrid but also shadows of old problems that once plagued PSG. Back then, he had Neymar and Messi beside him, and now, paradoxically, instead of strengthening the attack, Real is experiencing imbalance.

Kylian and His Invisible Baggage

Mbappé, a leading attacker at PSG and scoring goals in bunches, seems to have lost his scoring instinct at Real. He hasn’t scored a single goal in two La Liga matches, and the number of missed chances is perplexing.

The first half of the match against modest Valladolid left fans in shock. They were already regretting Toni Kroos’s retirement – misplaced passes, confusion in attack, and Mbappé, playing as a center-forward, seemed to hinder the team more than help.

Long-time Real fans remember situations when there are more than enough talents on the field, but they seem to hinder each other. Now, the problems of the early 21st century are returning. Either Madrid will find the key to success and surpass the PSG of three years ago, or they will become the new PSG, where there are stars but no coherent play.

Kylian Mbappé is used to playing on the left, where he can fully utilize his speed and dribbling. However, at Real, this position is already occupied by Vinícius Júnior, considered the world's best left winger. Trying to adapt to the role of a central forward, Mbappé feels uncomfortable and instinctively drifts to the left. These drifts only disrupt Vinícius, creating confusion in the attack and reducing the effectiveness of both players. The Frenchman is uneasy at the top of the attack, which noticeably affects his performance.

Fortunately, Real is coached by the brilliant tactician Carlo Ancelotti, who knows how to find balance even in the most challenging situations. After a failed first half against Valladolid, a conversation in the locker room seemed to have an effect. Real started to use the flanks more actively, slicing through the opponent's defense with passes, and it paid off.

The Future of Real and Mbappé’s Role

Real fans can still look to the future with some hope when players like Federico Valverde are on the team. Not only did he take a free-kick that brought the long-awaited first goal, but he also performed all the dirty work in midfield excellently. The Uruguayan rightly earned the highest rating for this match. However, most of the second half was very tense for Real. Only towards the end did Brahim Díaz, coming on as a substitute, double the lead, and then 18-year-old Endrick completed the rout with his first goal for the club. This moment was symbolic: the young Brazilian, who replaced Mbappé in the 86th minute, immediately did what the Frenchman couldn’t achieve throughout the match.

Kylian seems unable to find his place as a central forward. His movements not only hinder Vinícius but also raise questions about the compatibility of these two talents on the field. Doubts about Mbappé’s necessity at Real grow with each match. Looking at the play of young Endrick, it seems that the Brazilian attacking trio with Vinícius on the left, Rodrygo on the right, and Endrick in the center looks much more promising and harmonious.

Real's next few matches against top teams will be the actual test. It is still too early to make final conclusions, but it seems that Mbappé’s transfer has brought more problems than benefits to the team. All Real fans can do is hope for Carlo Ancelotti's brilliant decisions, who must find a way to restore balance to the team’s play.

Published by Patrick Jane
26.08.2024