Featured Image Credit: Getty Images
Topics: Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe, Athletic Bilbao, La Liga
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe, Athletic Bilbao, La Liga
Kylian Mbappe has taken "full responsibility" for missing another penalty as Real Madrid lost ground in the La Liga title race with a 2-1 defeat against Athletic Bilbao.
With the game poised at 1-0, the out-of-form Frenchman was given a chance to equalise from 12 yards after goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala fouled Antonio Rudiger.
But moments later, Agirrezabala made up for his error by saving Mbappe’s 68th-minute penalty; an almost carbon copy of the spot-kick he missed against Liverpool last week.
Jude Bellingham went on to level the score a short time later. However, substitute Gorka Guruzeta pounced on a rare mistake from Federico Valverde to secure all three points for Ernesto Valverde's side.
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Speaking after the full-time whistle, Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti opened up on Mbappe's current situation. "He is at a lot more than just one per cent [of his potential], but he's not at his best," he said in his post-match press conference.
"However, we have to give him time to adapt [to Real Madrid]. He has scored 10 goals and is working hard to improve and to do better.
"I haven't spoken to him yet. It was a complicated, even, hard-fought, competitive game. We missed a penalty, I don't evaluate a player's game because of a missed penalty. Sometimes you score and sometimes you miss."
Ancelotti added: "Obviously he's sad, disappointed, but we have to keep going."
Mbappe was certainly disappointed at his display against Bilbao and after the full-time whistle, he took to Instagram to take "full responsibility" for making a "big mistake" during the game.
“Bad result," he wrote. "A big mistake in a match where every detail counts. I take full responsibility for it. A difficult moment but it's the best time to change this situation and show who I am.”
Real Madrid legend Guti took a different stance on Mbappe's penalty miss.
“You have to applaud Mbappe's decision to take the penalty," he told DAZN. "Mbappe has always taken it. Here, in France [national team] or at PSG, and even if he missed the one against Liverpool, if there's another one you have to shoot it. Even though it is true that it's badly taken.
"It is a little bit shot like the one in the Liverpool match. At half height, where they give a lot of advantage to the goalkeeper to be able to stop it. Mbappe is not well positioned, and then, the truth is that he makes it very clear. I think he opens his foot wide, making it very clear where he is going to hit.”