Kylian Mbappé delivered a scathing assessment of Real Madrid’s mentality following their damaging Champions League defeat to Benfica, making it clear that he believes the problem lies with attitude rather than talent.
The French forward suggested that Madrid failed to show the hunger required on a decisive European night, arguing that their performance fell well short of what should be expected from a club that considers itself a “team of champions”.
Mbappé indicated that Benfica approached the match with far greater urgency, stressing that the Portuguese side clearly understood what was at stake while Real Madrid did not.
He pointed out that both teams had clear objectives before kick-off, Benfica chasing qualification and Madrid pushing for a top-eight finish, but only one side showed the necessary desire once the game began.
The defeat saw Real Madrid drop to ninth in the league phase standings, condemning them to the Champions League knockout play-offs instead of automatic qualification for the last 16.
Mbappé, who scored twice at the Estádio da Luz, expressed frustration that his team failed to build on an early lead and instead allowed Benfica to take control before half-time, leaving Madrid permanently on the back foot.
He also highlighted Madrid’s lack of consistency as a recurring issue this season, suggesting that elite teams cannot afford to perform at a high level one week and fall well below it the next.
Mbappé made it clear that missing out on a top-eight finish was especially disappointing because it removes valuable time in February that the squad had hoped to use for training and tactical work rather than additional matches.
The forward was particularly critical of the manner in which Madrid defended, describing the late goal conceded to Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin as embarrassing, even if it did not alter the final outcome.
He suggested the scoreline could have been even more damaging, admitting that Benfica’s dominance was such that a heavier deficit by half-time would not have been surprising.
Mbappé also reflected on Madrid’s struggles to respond after falling behind again in the second half, noting that the team failed to control the tempo or create enough clear chances once Benfica shut the game down.
