Mbappe aims subtle dig at Real Madrid fans in Tchouameni’s defence: ‘They won’t leave you alone’
· Yahoo Sports
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Kylian Mbappe has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind, and his latest comments are likely to attract plenty of attention among Real Madrid fans.
The French superstar reflected on the criticism he and several teammates have faced throughout the season, but it was his defence of Aurelien Tchouameni that stood out the most.
In backing his international colleague, Mbappe also offered a revealing insight into the demanding environment players experience at Real Madrid.
What was said?
Tchouameni has endured a challenging journey at Real Madrid over the past couple of seasons.
Despite being regarded as one of the most talented midfielders in Europe, the Frenchman has often found himself under intense scrutiny whenever his performances dipped.
Mbappe has failed Tchouaneni’s versatility. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Injuries within the squad also forced him into unfamiliar roles, with the midfielder spending significant periods operating in central defence rather than his preferred position.
Speaking about his teammate, as quoted by SPORT, Mbappe made it clear that he believes Tchouameni deserves far more recognition for the way he handled those challenges.
“Tchouameni… Phew, he’s impressive. He’s a key player for the team, the vice-captain.
“What’s more, he’s at a good stage in his career. I think he’s been one of the club’s most consistent players this season at Madrid.”
Opening up on criticism at the Bernabeu
Mbappe then went a step further by highlighting the pressure players face when representing Real Madrid.
Mbappe has defended Tchouameni. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The forward pointed out that Tchouameni was dealing with heavy criticism at a time when he was regularly being asked to perform outside his natural position.
“When I arrived at Real Madrid, Aurelien was in a difficult situation. He was under pressure.
“After that, he often played as a centre-back, but at Madrid they don’t care about that: whether you play as a centre-back or a midfielder, if you don’t perform, they won’t leave you alone—that’s just how it is.
“But I liked the character he showed in turning the situation around. He came out of that experience stronger. Now he’s arriving with confidence and sure of his abilities,” he concluded.