Jude Bellingham admits Kylian Mbappe is under ‘huge’ pressure at Real Madrid after struggling Frenchman misses penalty in Liverpool defeat

Mbappe's struggles in a Real Madrid shirt continued on Wednesday night after he missed a penalty that would have drawn his side level against Liverpool in the Champions League. The 25-year-old failed to make an impact on the big stage in the absence of Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior and made headlines for his poor performance. Team-mate Bellingham had sympathy for the Frenchman in his post-match interview, admitting he is under huge pressure to deliver for Los Blancos.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Bellingham said: "It's [Mbappe's penalty] a big moment in the game but it can happen. He's a wonderful player but the pressure that he holds because of how good he is is huge. The penalty is not the reason why we lost the game. As a collective we weren't good enough on the night, they performed better than us and it's as simple as that. Kylian can keep his head high, I know for sure that he will produce many more moments that are huge for this club."

It is inevitable that some players need time to adjust to their new clubs, which is certainly the case for Mbappe. He has gone from being the star of Paris Saint-Germain and the French league to a team full of superstars and expectations that rival Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at Madrid. Once he shakes off the nerves and complications of his role under Carlo Ancelotti, the World Cup winner will surely start firing on a regular basis again.

Mbappe has still netted seven goals in La Liga this season and will be hoping to bounce back with a few more when Madrid face Getafe on Sunday. They remain four points behind Barcelona in the standings with a game in hand on their rivals.