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Blanc unconcerned by Mbappé's debut season at Real Madrid
Despite Kylian Mbappé's first season at Real Madrid concluding without major silverware, former France manager Laurent Blanc believes there is no cause for concern.
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He acknowledged that many might label his debut year "underwhelming" given the monumental hype surrounding his 2024 transfer, Blanc has come to Mbappé's defense, emphasising his adaptation to a new role within a transitional Real Madrid side.
Mbappe debut season at Real Madrid
Mbappé's move to Madrid in the summer of 2024, following over a year of intense speculation, was widely anticipated to herald an era of dominance for Los Blancos in both La Liga and the Champions League.
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However, the reality of the 2024-25 season proved different.
While Mbappé initially struggled to adapt to the pace of La Liga, going goalless in his first few outings, he ultimately found his rhythm.
He finished the season with an impressive 43 goals in 56 appearances across all competitions, including a record-breaking 31 goals in La Liga, which earned him the European Golden Shoe.
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However, his individual brilliance wasn't enough to secure major collective triumphs. Real Madrid were pipped to the La Liga title by arch-rivals Barcelona, who also won the Copa del Rey.
In the Champions League, their defense ended in a surprising 5-1 quarter-final defeat to Arsenal, and they suffered a humiliating 4-0 El Clásico sweep against Barcelona in the league.
What Blanc said
Speaking to Le Parisien, Blanc argued that the 26-year-old is undergoing an adaptation period within a team that is itself in transition.
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He said, "It could have been better, certainly. Unfortunately for him, he fell at a time when Real were no longer dominant in Europe.”
Blanc added, "For five or six years, the club had always been present in the Champions League. This was a bit like the end of a cycle. [Toni] Kroos left in 2024, [Luka] Modric now."
Despite these challenges, Blanc highlighted Mbappé's consistent goal-scoring,
He added, "Despite all that, despite the adaptation time, he scored, and scored again. He is also discovering a new position."
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17:18 - 14.06.2025
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Blanc expressed unwavering confidence in Mbappé's immense talent, suggesting that expectations for the forward are perhaps unfairly high.
"With his talent, I have no worries. Afterwards, he set the bar so high that everyone expects him to score five goals per game and be at 100 per cent for 90 minutes... I repeat: he is a fabulous player, capable of scoring at any time. He perhaps needs to gain a little consistency. That is what he needs to work on,” he concluded.
Mbappe might miss Real Madrid Club World Cup opener against Al Hilal as he is battling illness.
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