'A great champion must rise from the ashes' - Michel Platini backs "lost" Kylian Mbappe to overcome Real Madrid struggles

Legendary former French footballer Michel Platini is certain that Kylian Mbappe will overcome his struggles at Real Madrid following the French forward's frustrating display in Madrid's 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League earlier this week. Mbappe signed from PSG last summer and has made 18 appearances for the Whites in his debut season, scoring nine goals so far.

All the spotlight ahead of the Champions League clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield was on Mbappe, who was expected to put his struggles behind him in the absence of the injured Vinicius Jr.. However, Mbappe was far from his best in what was arguably Madrid's biggest game of the season so far, having already lost to AC Milan and Lille in the competition.

Mbappe started in a front three comprising of Brahim Diaz as the false nine and Arda Guler occupying the right wing, which meant that the 25-year-old France international was employed in his favoured left wing role. He had a chance to score his 10th goal for Real this season when Lucas Vazquez won a penalty in the second half, but fluffed his chance from the spot as second-choice Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher pulled off a wonderful save.

Liverpool were leading 1-0 before the penalty, but would eventually go on to win 2-0 thanks to a late goal from substitute Cody Gakpo, leading many to believe that Mbappe's missed penalty was to blame for Madrid's third loss in five Champions League group stage games this season. However, Platini is optimistic that Mbappe will soon return to his best, and that his current struggles are nothing but just a temporary slump in form.

“I see him looking a bit lost on the pitch,” Platini stated during an event in Nice (h/t SPORT). “A great champion must rise from the ashes, systematically. This is what will make Kylian a great champion. It will only be a small bump, for French football and for him."

Mbappe will once again be in contention to start this weekend against Getafe in LaLiga, after it was reported that the forward had probably suffered an injury after the Liverpool game. Real Madrid are currently in second position in the table, four points behind Barcelona with a game in hand.