Kylian Mbappe’s Turning Point at Real Madrid and Their Champions League Aspirations

 

Kylian Mbappe’s highly anticipated move to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer was expected to be seamless. However, the French forward quickly realized that integrating into the star-studded squad would not be as easy as he initially thought. Now, after a rocky start, Mbappe has found his rhythm, playing a crucial role in Madrid’s strong domestic and European campaigns.

 

As the UEFA Champions League knockout stages approach, Madrid’s form has improved significantly. They currently sit four points clear at the top of La Liga and have secured their place in the next round of the Champions League. But what changed for Mbappe? French football journalist Julien Laurens believes there was a turning point in the forward’s season that transformed his performances.

 

The Challenge of Adapting to Real Madrid

 

Despite being one of the world’s most talented forwards, Mbappe initially struggled to fit into Carlo Ancelotti’s system. He had to find his place alongside Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham—players who had already established themselves as key figures in Madrid’s attack.

 

Laurens suggested that Mbappe may have underestimated the challenge of becoming the main striker at one of the biggest clubs in the world. “I think he maybe took a little bit for granted, thinking that he would come into that team,” Laurens said. “It was a great team that won the Champions League last season and the league as well, and he thought it would just fit in nicely and perfectly and that everything would be fine from the beginning.”

 

Instead, the reality was far different. Mbappe faced intense scrutiny from both fans and media, and his performances early in the season did not live up to expectations. He struggled to find his place in the squad, and it became clear that settling in at Real Madrid required more time and effort than he had anticipated.

 

A Mental and Emotional Adjustment

 

Mbappe’s struggles were not just about tactics or positioning—they were also psychological. According to Laurens, it took conversations with his family and inner circle for him to understand that he needed to make adjustments. “It took a lot of discussions between him, his family, and his entourage to make him realise that he had to do more and understand mentally that it was not just going to click like this.”

 

Laurens believes that one key moment helped Mbappe reset his mindset. “The fact that he spoke to a French TV show two months ago freed him a bit,” he explained. “After that, he was a different player. To talk about everything that went wrong at the start of the season really helped him to process things.”

 

Following this shift, Mbappe’s confidence and performances improved. He became more effective on the pitch, scoring crucial goals and asserting himself in Madrid’s attack.

 

The Turning Point: Atalanta Match

 

Laurens pinpointed one game that marked the true turning point in Mbappe’s season—Madrid’s clash against Atalanta. “It was the game against Atalanta where he scored a lovely goal, got slightly injured and had to come off, but I felt that was the turning point in his season,” Laurens noted.

 

From that moment, Mbappe appeared to be playing with more freedom and confidence. His decision-making improved, his movement became sharper, and his link-up play with teammates grew stronger. The game served as a reminder of his immense talent and reignited his form.

 

The Language Advantage—and Its Hidden Challenge

 

One of the factors that was supposed to make Mbappe’s transition to Madrid easier was his fluency in Spanish. Unlike many foreign players who struggle with a language barrier, Mbappe arrived already speaking the language fluently. However, Laurens suggests that this advantage might have also created unrealistic expectations.

 

“In a way, the best and the worst thing for Mbappe is that his Spanish was already perfect when he arrived,” Laurens said. “It felt like him speaking Spanish would just mean integration would be immediate.”

 

He explained that while language is an important part of adapting to a new club, there are other factors at play. “Despite speaking the language, you need to get to know your new team-mates and get to know the city. Going to Madrid is very different—you are not the leader in that dressing room anymore, this is not your club.”

 

At PSG, Mbappe was the undisputed main man. At Madrid, however, he had to earn his place among a squad filled with world-class players. This transition took time, but he now appears to have fully embraced his role.

Mbappe for real Madrid

A 40-Goal Season and Champions League Aspirations

 

So far this season, Mbappe has found the net 22 times across all competitions, including a stunning hat-trick in his most recent La Liga match. As Madrid’s performances continue to improve, Laurens predicts even greater things for the club and their star forward.

 

“One player—because it’s Kylian—can change everything,” Laurens said. “The most difficult thing was to integrate Mbappe fully into what Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti wanted to do. Now that that’s the case, I think we will see a better Vinicius, we will see a better Bellingham. Bellingham can play a bit closer to Mbappe to even be better and get better. I think we’ll see a better Rodrygo.”

 

However, Laurens also acknowledged that Madrid still has some issues to resolve, particularly when they are out of possession. “There are still issues about balance in that team, especially when they don’t have the ball defensively, that have to be sorted,” he noted.

 

Despite these concerns, he remains convinced that Real Madrid is a serious contender for the Champions League title. “They have a big chance to win La Liga, but I think with all that talent and how pragmatic they can all be on their day, they can beat anybody home and away, and that’s why you tip them still to win the Champions League ahead of anybody else.”

 

Mbappe’s resurgence could be the key to Madrid’s European ambitions. “The hardest part of that was to get Kylian hitting the ground running and really performing, and then the others will follow,” Laurens said. “I’m convinced that Kylian will score 40 goals or more in all competitions this season, and that everybody’s going to follow in his footsteps.”

 

Madrid’s Future with Mbappe

 

Now that Kylian Mbappe has overcome the early difficulties of adapting to life at Real Madrid, he is set to become the club’s focal point in attack. His growing chemistry with Vinicius Junior, Bellingham, and Rodrygo could make Madrid an even more dangerous side in the second half of the season.

 

As the Champions League knockout rounds approach, all eyes will be on Madrid and their superstar signing. If Mbappe continues his current form, he could be the decisive factor in Los Blancos’ pursuit of yet another European crown.