"It is difficult to bear having your name" - Liverpool star hits back at Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe critics amid poor form
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has leaped to the defense of Kylian Mbappe amid the criticism the Real Madrid man has been subjected to lately. He said that the French national team possesses more firepower when the forward is with them.
Kylian Mbappe joined Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain. However, his performance at the Spanish capital so far has yet to meet the expectations of the Los Blancos faithful. The last international break of the year has started and France will play against Israel and Italy in their final group games of the UEFA Nations League.
However, Kylian Mbappe was left out of the French squad, having also missed out in October. Speculations are rife that coach Didier Deschamps left him out this month because he was unhappy with the forward. This is because he went to a nightclub in Sweden after he pulled out of the previous squad in October due to injury.
However, fellow compatriot Konate has hit back at Mbappe’s critics, telling them about the quality the Real Madrid man brings to the France national team. He told Canal Football Club:
"I often tell him: 'I want your level of football, but I don't want your life, because, frankly, it is difficult to bear having your name everywhere, for everything you do.' When Mbappé is with us, we know the qualities he has, we know what he has brought to us and we should not be ungrateful for what he has been able to contribute to this French team and the whole world is aware of it.
"He is not here today. It is up to the players who are going to play in his position to do the job, be decisive, and allow us to win games. It is the coach who makes his decisions. He is the one who decides whether he wants to call him up or not. I have no say in it."
Kylian Mbappe has scored eight goals and provided two assists in 16 games across competitions for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti on Didier Deschamps’ decision to leave Kylian Mbappe out of the France team
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has given his opinion on Deschamps’ decision not to call up Kylian Mbappe for France's November international break fixtures.
Ancelotti says he has yet to speak with Mbappe regarding the issue and will not either. He also added that he is not in the position to judge the decisions made by the French coach. He said in a press conference via beIN Sports:
“I haven’t spoken to him about this issue and I’m not going to. I don’t have the right to judge the decisions of the French coach; he made his choice, and we must respect that. Mbappé is highly motivated, down like everyone else, but motivated to overcome this moment.”
“He is training well. He’s going through a tough time, like each of us. And each one of us has to think of it as an opportunity; you have to be smart to overcome it quickly, with more focus and attitude. This is how we face the problems that come, and the problem he’s going through is the same as all of us, which is that we are not able to show our best version,”
He went on to add that Kylian Mbappe will get past the difficult moments he is going through at Real Madrid.
“I’m convinced he will overcome this difficult moment; I’m talking about Mbappé, but the same goes for Vinícius, Rodrygo, Bellingham, and myself… I have no problem saying it’s a tough time.
"It’s normal for this to happen in football, a sport where defeat is part of it. We’re not used to it because everything has gone perfectly for a long time, we accept it, and we can’t give up; our arms need to be higher than ever. This is a strong, healthy, motivated group, at the best club in the world. It’s the best place to be and to overcome difficult times. We are all in the same boat, and we are more united than ever,”
Kylian Mbappe is currently in the third position on the list of France's all-time top scorers, having scored 48 goals and provided 35 assists in 86 games.