France legend Thierry Henry has leapt to the defence of Kylian Mbappe and hit back at the Real Madrid superstar’s critics.
Mbappe has been under intense scrutiny since swapping PSG for Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.
The forward had been expected to take La Liga by storm but has failed to show his very best form on a consistent basis for Los Blancos, although he has still scored 10 goals in 17 league matches for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Mbappe has also had to get used to a different set-up in Madrid and play in a more central role, rather than out wide, due to the presence of Vinicius Jr in Madrid’s starting XI.
Henry feels Mbappe has been judged unfairly during his time in the Spanish capital so far and says playing as a No. 9 has revealed weaknesses in his game that simply were not seen in Paris.
Henry’s Take On Mbappe
The Arsenal and France legend told RMC Sport show Rothen S’enflamme: “When you look closely at the goals, you can’t say that his start in Madrid wasn’t good.
“But now, what he used to give us from the first to the last minute and in the whole game, people are asking questions.
“But playing nine is not the same job.
“For me, Kylian is a player who can play in all positions but at some point it has to be learned.
“You have to know a little about the job and learn to play number nine on the job at Real Madrid, it’s not easy.
“It takes time to learn how to play with your back to goal.
“Especially when you don’t have it as a base.
“And I can say that because I didn’t have it as a base.
“But it can be learned.
“I hope he will evolve and he must have progressed.
Judgmental
“If it were someone else, we would say that he scores goals.
“Now we are judging based on what he has done before.
“It is completely normal, when you are not used to it, to find yourself in a certain situation where people can see your weaknesses.
“Whereas before we never saw them.
“We know very well that he is one of the best players in the world.
“And I repeat, but let’s be happy that he is French.
“Now, we have to know if I am being asked the question of the player or the human being.
“And that is super important because at some point you have to sort things out.
“Who knows what it is like to always be number one? Not many people.
“Human beings, from time to time, yes, they can be affected and that’s completely normal.
“And that, for me, is completely normal.
“At one point, everyone thought he was a robot.
“He’s not a robot, he’s a human being who has emotions like everyone else.
“And from time to time, he’s going to get angry and throw up his arms.”
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Real Madrid and Mbappe are back in action on Thursday and will be hoping to bounce back from a Supercopa thumping at the hands of Barcelona last time out by beating Celta Vigo in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey at the Santiago Bernabeu.
