"I take full responsibility" - Kylian Mbappe reacts after missing penalty in Real Madrid's loss to Athletic Club
Kylian Mbappe has reacted after his penalty miss in Real Madrid's 2-1 loss to Athletic Club Bilbao on December 4. The forward failed to add his name to the scoresheet in Los Blancos' La Liga match at San Mames, as the hosts came through with all three points.
After a first half where neither side was able to find the net, Athletic Club struck first through Alex Berenguer in the 53rd minute. Real Madrid fought to find the equalizer, and when goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala fouled defender Antonio Rudiger in the box, they thought the game had turned around.
It was Kylian Mbappe who took the penalty for Los Blancos. Just a week earlier in the UEFA Champions League against Liverpool at Anfield, the Frenchman took a poor penalty that was saved by the goalkeeper. To his dismay, history repeated itself at San Mames, as his penalty was saved again (68').
Real Madrid eventually got their deserved equalizer through Jude Bellingham in the 78th minute. However, they could not stop Athletic Club from finding the winning goal through Gorka Guruzeta (80').
If Mbappe's penalty had gone in, it might have been enough to turn the tide in their favor. The French World Cup winner recognized this, saying after the game (via Fabrizio Romano on X):
“Bad result. 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 l am.”
Kylian Mbappe has now missed two penalties out of five for Real Madrid, which will be a cause for concern at Valdebebas.
Carlo Ancelotti defends Kylian Mbappe after Real Madrid loss
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has defended Kylian Mbappe after their loss to Athletic Club Bilbao. It is worth noting that the superstar's two missed penalties have come at opportune moments for Madrid to equalize - against Liverpool and Athletic Club. Both times, he has missed, and both times, Los Blancos have lost.
However, Ancelotti has defended his performance, stating (via New York Times):
“I haven’t spoken to him (Mbappe). We missed the penalty, but I don’t have to evaluate a player’s game by the penalty, sometimes they score and sometimes they don’t. He’s sad but we have to keep going.
“He’s much more than at his 1%. He’s not at his best but we have to give him time. He has scored 10 goals. He can do better, of course, and he is working on it.”
Indeed, Kylian Mbappe has scored 10 goals and provided two assists in 19 games this season. However, three of his goals have come from the penalty spot, and he will need to be more clinical from open play if he is to improve.