Kylian Mbappé responded sharply during a press conference on Monday after a journalist compared his defensive efforts unfavorably to those of Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé and Barcelona’s Raphinha. The exchange came a day before Real Madrid’s Champions League group-stage opener against Inter Milan, scheduled for Tuesday at 9pm at the Santiago Bernabéu.
What prompted the comparison?
A reporter raised the topic of Mbappé’s defensive workload during the pre-match press conference, drawing a direct parallel to Dembélé and Raphinha, two wingers frequently praised in recent seasons for their pressing and defensive discipline alongside their attacking output. The question implied that Mbappé’s contribution off the ball has lagged behind that of his peers at rival clubs.
How did Mbappé respond?
Mbappé did not shy away from addressing the comparison and answered firmly, pushing back against the framing of the question rather than accepting the premise outright. While the exact wording of his reply was not detailed at length, his tone was described as notably curt, suggesting he was not pleased with being singled out on the defensive front just before a high-stakes European fixture.
Mbappé made clear he did not appreciate being singled out over his defensive contribution compared to other star forwards.
Why does this matter ahead of the Inter clash?
The timing of the exchange is notable, coming on the eve of Real Madrid’s first Champions League match of the season against a strong Inter Milan side. Questions over Mbappé’s all-round contribution, including his work rate without the ball, have followed him since his move to Real Madrid, and such scrutiny tends to intensify during marquee European nights. His response signals that he intends to address any doubts about his commitment through his performance on the pitch rather than in press conferences.
