Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid’s high-profile summer signing, has finally opened his LaLiga account with a brace against Real Betis, leading to a 2-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday. Following his performance, the French star addressed comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo and his adaptation to the Spanish giants.
When questioned about feeling pressure to succeed Ronaldo at Real Madrid, Mbappe responded dismissively, stating, “I don’t think of Cristiano. With all the respect I have for him, as everyone knows, I’m here to be Kylian.”
The 25-year-old forward broke his LaLiga drought after three scoreless matches, netting his first goal from a clever backheel assist by Federico Valverde. He then doubled his tally from the penalty spot, securing a crucial win for Madrid.
Addressing the scrutiny he’s faced since joining the reigning LaLiga and Champions League winners, Mbappe remained composed. “I have my quality. There’s no pressure. I’m happy, I want to work,” he told journalists. He acknowledged that his “only pressure is to adapt to the team,” but expressed confidence that “the goals will come.”
Mbappe’s self-assurance was evident as he reflected on his goalscoring history. “I’ve scored goals all my career, I’ll score goals for sure. Three games [without scoring] is a lot for me, but it’s OK, I have the confidence of my teammates,” he explained.
The French international had previously scored for Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta but failed to find the net in LaLiga matches against Real Mallorca, Real Valladolid, and Las Palmas. Madrid had managed only two draws in their first three league games before Sunday’s victory.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti praised Mbappe’s performance in his post-match press conference. “We’ve never put pressure on him to score goals,” Ancelotti stated. “Kylian had a good game. He was very effective in the area, he took his chances, he worked hard.”
As Mbappe settles into life at Real Madrid, his brace against Betis marks a significant milestone in his adaptation to Spanish football. With the weight of expectation lifted, Madrid fans will be hoping this performance signals the start of a prolific scoring run for their new star forward.
