Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has insisted that Kylian Mbappé is not under pressure to immediately win the UEFA Champions League as the Spanish giants prepare to host Marseille on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Mbappé, 26, joined Madrid last summer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, only to see his former club clinch their first-ever Champions League title in his absence.
“He’s not anxious. We all see this as the start of a long-term project,” Alonso told reporters on Monday. “Winning the Champions League is one of our objectives, hopefully sooner rather than later, and Kylian is a key part of that journey. But he’s not in a hurry. Today we talked about what this competition means, but not about May and the final,njust the immediate steps ahead.”
The French forward faced his old club for the first time during the Club World Cup in the United States, where Real Madrid suffered a heavy 4–0 semi-final defeat to PSG. Mbappé was recovering from a stomach bug at the time and was not at full strength.
“Gastroenteritis meant it was Kylian ‘lite’ at the Club World Cup,” Alonso explained. “But there’s no doubt he is a leader, his personality, experience and the influence he has on his teammates make that clear.”
Mbappé has since returned to top form, scoring four goals in his first four La Liga matches this season.
Despite Madrid’s impressive record of six Champions League triumphs in the last 12 editions, Alonso said he feels inspired rather than burdened by the club’s legacy.
“It’s an unquestionable fact and an honour,” he said. “It’s both a motivation and a responsibility but above all, it’s a privilege.”
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