In a statement reflecting disappointment and realism, French star Kylian Mbappe, the Real Madrid striker, admitted that his team did not deliver the consistent performance that would qualify them to secure a direct place in the round of 16 of the Champions League, leaving the Royal Club in an unenviable position of having to play in the qualifying play-offs.
A resounding defeat in Lisbon
These statements came in the wake of a painful 4-2 defeat suffered by the record 15-time champions against Benfica of Portugal. The match, played in Lisbon, saw a clear dominance from the team managed by former Real Madrid coach José Mourinho, who capitalized on the inconsistent performances of the Spanish giants. This loss dropped Real Madrid to ninth place in the unified group standings, a position that places them outside the top eight automatic qualification spots and forces them into an additional playoff match against either Benfica again or Norway's Bodø/Glimt in February.
Context of the new Champions League system
This complex situation arises from the new Champions League format implemented this season, which uses a single-group system instead of the traditional group stage. Under this system, the top eight teams qualify directly for the round of 16, while the teams finishing ninth through twenty-fourth compete in a two-legged playoff to determine the remaining eight qualifiers. The failure of a team of Real Madrid's stature to qualify directly underscores the difficulty and competitiveness of this new system, which leaves no room for complacency or inconsistency.
Mbappe puts his finger on the wound: the problem of inconsistency
After three consecutive victories that seemed to put the team back on track under new coach Álvaro Arbeloa, the Benfica defeat brought them back down to earth. In analyzing the reasons, Mbappé was clear and direct, saying: “The problem is our inconsistency; we have to address this. We can’t play well one day and badly the next; a champion team doesn’t do that.” The French star, who scored both of his team’s goals in the match, added: “We deserve to be in this position today. Benfica were better, and now we have two more playoff matches. It’s painful to have to play these two games; we wanted to use February to work on improving our performance.”.
Local and international impact
This setback has implications that extend far beyond simply having to play two more matches. Domestically, it adds further pressure to the team's already congested schedule, potentially impacting their La Liga campaign. Internationally, seeing Real Madrid, with its illustrious history, struggle in the early stages of the competition sends a powerful message that historical dominance is no longer sufficient in the face of new challenges. Mbappé emphasized that the problem isn't a single factor, but rather "a combination of several," adding that "in the Champions League, every detail matters if you want to beat your opponent.".
Call to the Bernabeu fans
In closing, Mbappé appealed to Real Madrid fans to support the team in their upcoming league match against Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabéu, instead of booing them. He pleaded with the fans, saying, “Come and support the team. We played badly, but we haven’t been eliminated from the Champions League, and we’re in a good position in La Liga right now. If the Bernabéu is on our side, we’ll win on Sunday.”.
