A media call that says plenty
Real Madrid’s media team put Kylian Mbappe alongside Jose Mourinho at Monday’s press conference on the eve of their Champions League showdown with Inter. In a club where only the big names get this sort of stage, and where every word from the Frenchman is dissected in Spain, that detail was hardly random.
The 27-year-old started on the pitch. “We are very happy to be back in the Champions League. We always approach this competition with motivation and excitement. We are in very good shape. We are going to play a very demanding match, but this is the Champions League and it is a pleasure.” After that, things got far less diplomatic.
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Vinicius Jr and the defence work row
A Spanish journalist asked him about his supposed incompatibility with Vinicius Jr. “That’s just one opinion among millions of others about Real Madrid, the biggest club in the world. I can’t control everything that is said. We all share the same goal: winning trophies,” he replied.
On the familiar criticism about tracking back, he fired off a jab. “Just Vinicius and me? Of course, we have to improve. I can say that I score more goals than the PSG players, and they should be scoring more too. But I have to be honest and admit that I need to get better.” The Paris comparison was no accident: PSG have won two Champions League titles since he left, a fact the Madrid press keeps throwing back at him. His answer boiled down to one line. “Talking about me works well, and I admit it.”
Ballon d’Or: honesty over theatre
Mourinho had suggested he would rather have an Mbappe on 40 goals with trophies than an Mbappe on 60 goals with nothing to show for it. His striker signed up to that view, in his own way. “I buy that too. Even with 30 goals. If I score 40 and we’re still fighting for the league, the Champions League, the Spanish Cup, should I stop scoring? You have to do both.”
On the individual race, he refused to dress himself up as the favourite. “This year could be good for the Ballon d’Or, but it’s awarded by journalists, and they’re the ones who will decide.” He also pointed out that he is captain with France but not at Real Madrid, a distinction he clearly wanted on record. On Tuesday night, Inter will turn up to test all of that on the grass.
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