Mbappe’s Man City Destruction Just The Start For Real Madrid Superstar
AFP/APP
Madrid: Kylian Mbappe’s sensational hat-trick against Manchester City sent Real Madrid into the Champions League last 16, marking a new milestone in his journey with the club. It was the type of moment Mbappe had long envisioned both as a young boy idolizing Cristiano Ronaldo and during his years at Paris Saint-Germain.
As PSG fell short year after year in Europe, Mbappe watched from the sidelines as Madrid dominated the European stage, securing a record 15 European Cup titles.
Despite a rocky start to the current season, in part due to Mbappe’s struggles with adaptation, Madrid found themselves in a difficult position against City. They needed their star forward to deliver, and he did so with three clinical goals, securing a 3-1 victory on the night and a 6-3 aggregate win.
Mbappe reflected on the moment: “This is the type of game we want to play,” he said. “People told me about these nights, and now I can see it with my own eyes. I want to live through many more of them.”
After years of speculation and failed attempts, Mbappe finally joined Madrid last summer. However, his first few months were challenging, marked by a lack of confidence and inconsistent form. Missed penalties against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao raised concerns, but Mbappe quickly turned things around, vowing to demonstrate his true character. With 18 goals in his last 18 matches, he has proven his worth, culminating in his outstanding performance against City at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“I knew I couldn’t do worse than I was doing,” Mbappe said after his stunning treble. “I had to play with personality. My adaptation time was over, and I needed to show my quality.”
For Mbappe, joining Madrid was just the beginning. “Making my dream come true is one thing, but I want to play well here, mark an era, and make history at Real Madrid,” he explained. “I’ve always said I have no limit.
If I can score 50 goals, I’ll score them. If I can score more, I’ll score more. But the important thing is winning titles. I’ve scored a lot of goals, but we need to see if they mean something. In the end, we didn’t always win titles. If I can score a lot of goals and we win trophies, I’ll sign for that with my blood.”
With 28 goals in 38 games for Madrid, Mbappe’s form has led to comparisons with the club’s greatest ever players, even though he is still at the start of his Madrid career. “He has the quality to reach the level of Cristiano (Ronaldo),” said coach Carlo Ancelotti.
“He has to work because Cristiano set the bar very high, but for the quality and excitement he has to play here, he can reach Ronaldo’s level. It won’t be easy, but he has to work.”
Ronaldo scored 450 goals in 438 games for Madrid, becoming the club’s all-time top scorer. While Ronaldo left Madrid in 2018, Mbappe’s goal-scoring ability has made him the most likely candidate to replicate that success.
Looking ahead, Madrid will face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the next round, and Mbappe expressed a preference for a derby clash. “Both would be difficult games, so it’s better to have a tough match without having to travel,” he said, eager for more chances to shine with his dream club.
