'He set the bar so high' - Kylian Mbappe expected 'to score five goals per game' but ex-France boss has 'no worries' that Real Madrid star can live up to the hype

While the Frenchman bagged an impressive 43 goals in 56 appearances, many labelled his first year in Madrid as underwhelming due to their failure to win a major trophy, especially given the hype surrounding his blockbuster 2024 move. However, former France boss Blanc has come out in Mbappe’s defense. Speaking to Le Parisien, Blanc argued that the 26-year-old is adapting to a new role in a team going through a transitional phase, but is still delivering with goals.

After more than a year of “will he, won’t he,” Mbappe finally joined Madrid in the summer of 2024. But, while many predicted a complete dominance in both La Liga and the Champions League, the reality turned out to be far different.

Mbappe struggled initially to adapt to La Liga’s pace, going goalless in his first several outings. While he eventually found his rhythm, his individual goal-scoring wasn’t enough to lift Real Madrid to any major silverware. The European giants crashed out in the Champions League quarter-finals and suffered a humiliating 4-0 El-Clasico sweep against arch-rivals Barcelona.

Still, Blanc has expressed confidence in Mbappe’s talent and believes the winger just needs to find consistency.

"It could have been better, certainly. Unfortunately for him, he fell at a time when Real were no longer dominant in Europe," Blanc said. "For five or six years, the club had always been present in the Champions League. This was a bit like the end of a cycle. [Toni] Kroos left in 2024, [Luka] Modric now. Despite all that, despite the adaptation time, he scored, and scored again. He is also discovering a new position. With his talent, I have no worries. Afterwards, he set the bar so high that everyone expects him to score five goals per game and be at 100 per cent for 90 minutes... I repeat: he is a fabulous player, capable of scoring at any time. He perhaps needs to gain a little consistency. That is what he needs to work on."

Mbappe is currently with the Madrid squad in the United States as they prepare for the Club World Cup campaign. The French forward will be aiming for an even stronger individual season under new manager Xabi Alonso, but this time, with trophies to match.