Mbappe admits critics are correct in one big flaw

Kylian Mbappé has conceded that his critics are entirely correct regarding his lack of defensive input, admitting that his poor pressing can disrupt his team's balance. 

Speaking recently on Aurélien Tchouaméni's The Bridge podcast alongside Achraf Hakimi and Malik Bentalha, the 27-year-old forward bluntly stated, "I'm a player who defends a little less than others, and sometimes that can be a problem."

“It’s true that I do it less, but I notice that when I do, it really impacts the team. At Real Madrid, when I do it, you can see that everyone else is doing it too. I get criticised for that, and it doesn’t bother me, because it’s constructive criticism,” he said, per Marca.

Mbappé's comments come after his and Vinícius Júnior's lack of defensive work rate were highlighted to have contributed to the tactical collapse of former manager Xabi Alonso's system, ultimately leading to his exit. 

The criticism of Mbappé's defensive limitations is far from new; it famously reached a boiling point during his final season at Paris Saint-Germain. 

A clip from an in-house documentary made the rounds on social media, showing PSG head coach Luis Enrique directly challenging the forward to emulate NBA icon Michael Jordan by pressing opponents with far more intensity and committing to the dirty work. 

While his reluctance to press or track back remains a glaring issue, his peerless attacking output continues to render him virtually undroppable for Los Blancos. 

During the current campaign, Mbappé's offensive numbers are nothing short of spectacular; he has already registered a staggering 23 goals in 24 La Liga appearances and 13 goals in nine UEFA Champions League matches.