Many pundits hinted at it, however few dared to say it aloud – Kylian Mbappe’s Champions League curse lives on, now draped in Madrid white.
Boxing legend Mike Tyson as soon as mentioned, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
Real Madrid’s masterstroke was signing Mbappe – a summer season headline meant to raise the kings of Europe even greater.
Instead, his first European season resulted in jeers on the Bernabeu and a humiliating 5-1 mixture defeat to Arsenal within the quarterfinals.
As Paris Saint-Germain, now one of many favorites to safe their first-ever Champions League title, advance with out him, Real Madrid are left licking their wounds and grappling with exhausting questions.
Galactico’s humbling
After a 3-0 dismantling in London, Madrid wanted a miracle.
Los Blancos followers, fueled by their wealthy historical past, had been assured within the Bernabeu’s status as a fortress the place opponents are mercilessly slain in dramatic comebacks.
Even gamers like Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham spoke of a possible revival earlier than the match.
The emotional climax got here when Rodrygo’s father was noticed exterior the stadium, praying for his son and the crew to work their signature white magic on the Gunners.
On the opposite, nevertheless, they obtained extra distress.
Arsenal’s 2-1 win on the Bernabeu accomplished a complete rout, made worse by Mbappe’s limp efficiency – figuratively and actually.
The Frenchman was invisible for a lot of the night time, failing to register a single shot on track earlier than hobbling off with a twisted ankle within the seventy fifth minute.
His substitution drew boos from the house crowd.
Madrid’s solely objective throughout each legs got here from a bit of Vini’s brilliance – an effort he created and completed alone.
Outside of that flash, Los Blancos regarded toothless.
Mbappe’s numbers masks his flaws
Yes, Mbappe has racked up over 30 objectives in all competitions this season.
But below the microscope, these numbers appear self-serving.
Critics argue he prioritizes stat-padding over synergy, choosing egocentric photographs as a substitute of smarter performs.
His positioning isolates teammates, forces wingers to improvise and clogs attacking lanes.
Even worse, Mbappe refuses to press.
At this elite degree, taking part in with 10 males out of possession is a dying sentence.
Luis Enrique, his former PSG coach, sounded the alarm final yr – captured on documentary footage – the place he begged Mbappe to steer by instance, evaluating his lack of defensive dedication to a damaged machine.
Real Madrid’s dressing room shouldn’t be deaf to that.
Veteran keeper Thibaut Courtois subtly famous after the match, “We need to make more team moves, not just individual ones.”
Vini Jr. fights, Mbappe fades
Vinícius Jr. has not been excellent this season. Far from it. But on Wednesday, he confirmed coronary heart.
He drew 5 fouls, delivered three key passes, made 5 tackles, and led the entrance line with urgency.
In distinction, Donatello had zero defensive contributions – and fewer touches in key areas.
Real Madrid should be constructed on stars, however it’s clear who’s shining in moments that matter.
Mbappe is below scrutiny, and his legacy – to this point – is suffering from knockout exits and unrealized promise.
PSG’s achieve: Team reborn
The irony? Mbappe’s departure might need unlocked PSG’s finest model but.
Luis Enrique’s crew, balanced and ruthless, edged previous Aston Villa 5-4 on mixture regardless of dropping the second leg 3-2.
And they did it with what the coach described as a “team machine” – a collective firing on each ends of the pitch.
Gone is the overreliance on a single famous person.
In its place, Dembele (29 objectives), Barcola (16), and Desire Doue (8) have unfold the offensive load.
PSG have already created extra large probabilities this Ligue 1 season than any of the final 5.
Most importantly, everybody defends.
Doue tracked again to snuff out Villa’s counters.
Pressing begins from the entrance. There’s sacrifice. There’s buy-in. And there’s vindication for a coach who as soon as challenged Mbappe to steer like Michael Jordan – by urgent, monitoring again, doing the soiled work.
Luis Enrique put it bluntly: “You think scoring goals makes you a leader. That’s not enough.”
Growing Mbappe paradox
PSG could lastly win the Champions League – with out Mbappe.
And Real Madrid, a membership constructed for this stage, look worse with him than with out.
That’s the rising paradox.
He left Paris chasing the crown, solely to look at them rise whereas he stumbles.
Mbappe’s story on the Bernabeu isn’t over. But if he’s to grow to be greater than a proficient underachiever, he should rewrite his status. The expertise is world-class. The accolades? Still lacking in motion.
As the Copa del Rey closing in opposition to Barcelona looms, the time for reflection is now. The Champions League prepare has left the station – and Mbappe wasn’t on board.
Source: www.dailysabah.com