Mbappe Responds To Real Madrid Criticism, Emphasising Focus On Club And Cup Battles

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Kylian Mbappe stresses that criticism comes with playing for Real Madrid and says the focus stays on trophies with the club, not on the World Cup with France. Mbappe explains that every Madrid player faces scrutiny and that personal response matters most. The forward underlines a desire to finish the season strongly in both LaLiga and the Champions League.

Real Madrid return to LaLiga on April 4 away to Mallorca, trailing Barcelona by four points. The team also targets progress in Europe, with Bayern Munich awaiting in the Champions League quarter-finals at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 7. Mbappe says those matches shape the season and must take priority before international ambitions.

Mbappe says debate around Real Madrid is constant in Spain and that strong reactions are normal. "Real Madrid is like a religion for people in Spain; they are very passionate, and there is a lot of talk and speculation, sometimes justified, but sometimes not." Mbappe accepts that environment and views it as part of representing the club at the highest level.

The forward insists that even club legends faced similar judgement and that personal status offers no shield. "You have to know how to deal with criticism because everyone at Real Madrid has been criticised. [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Alfredo] Di Stefano, so I don't see why I should be an exception. You simply have to stay calm, concentrate on what you have to do, and tell yourself how you can improve your performance on the pitch."

Despite fitness issues, Mbappe remains Real Madrid's leading scorer across competitions this season. The France captain has 38 goals in 35 matches, averaging a strike every 76 minutes. Mbappe has missed 10 games in all since last summer's Club World Cup, yet continues to deliver decisive moments, keeping Real Madrid in contention on both domestic and European fronts.

Mbappe has his minutes managed since December due to a recurring knee problem and recently sat out five matches. The striker returned before the latest international window and then started for France in a 2-1 friendly victory over Brazil, scoring the opening goal. That display eased concern about sharpness after the enforced spell away from regular action.

Questions in Spain now centre on whether Mbappe might reduce club involvement to protect fitness before the World Cup with France. Mbappe rejects that idea outright. "In Spain, they're a little worried about that, that I won't play, and that I'll go straight to the World Cup," Mbappe told Telefoot ahead of France's friendly with Colombia. "The best way to prepare is to win everything with Madrid beforehand."

Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid and Bayern Champions League test

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich meet again in a fixture rich with Champions League history. The teams have faced each other 22 times in the competition, with Madrid winning 11 games, drawing three and losing eight. Madrid are unbeaten in the last nine clashes against Bayern, recording seven wins and two draws during that period.

Mbappe knows Bayern well from previous meetings with Paris Saint-Germain, scoring three times in seven appearances against the German champions. The forward expects another demanding tie. "We have to play against Bayern, who I think are the most in-form team in Europe right now, but if there's anyone who can beat that kind of team, it's Real Madrid," he added. The Bernabeu atmosphere is likely to be intense again.

Looking ahead to the run-in, Mbappe stresses the scale of the coming weeks for both club and country ambitions. "For me, what's coming up is extremely important, because we're very involved in the Champions League and also in LaLiga." Mbappe presents continued commitment to Real Madrid's campaign while acknowledging external talk around France and the World Cup.