Mbappe Real Madrid narrative has gone a bad off after their failure to get into the semifinal of the UEFA champions league despite a critical goal by Kylian Mbappe.
Addressing the press, Álvaro Arbeloa spoke about the situation in a moderate way. He recognized the influence of Mbappe but also pointed out that football is a team sport, particularly in the very top level.
In the quarter-final match with Bayern Munich, Mbappe was at the right place at the right time as he scored. His ambition did not kill the hopes but could not alter the general result. Real Madrid ended up losing both legs.
This outcome casts doubts on the expectations of star players. Mbappe has been perceived as a game-changer yet rarely does knockout football rely on a single person. Arbeloa remarks that over-dependence on one player may be a revelation of underlying team problems.
In a bigger perspective, the loss of Real Madrid indicates the narrow victory in high-level contests. A moment, a single missed chance, a single defensive lapse can make a difference. Success is never a given even with a player like Mbappe.
To Mbappe, the performance continues to affirm his significance. His high performance in high pressure matches contributes to his reputation. But it also displays the boundaries of personal genius in a team game.
With Real Madrid now turning their attention to other parts of the season, this loss is sure to cause some introspection. To Mbappe, it is again a reminder that greatness is not only gauged by the number of goals, but also the number of trophies won when playing with the team.
