Real Madrid’s Mbappe overcoming mentality issues and Liverpool’s dominant Champions League run, including player and coach insights.
Real Madrid’s Form: Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has recently discussed his earlier season form, citing a ‘mentality issue’ as the main reason for his performance dip. He stated that overthinking his movements and positioning on the pitch had negatively impacted his game. Mbappe admitted to being preoccupied with how to navigate the field in relation to his teammates, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo. He believes that this focus on overthinking distracted him from his natural game. He now believes he has overcome this obstacle and is back on track. Since the defeat by Athletic Bilbao on December 4th, Mbappe has scored eight goals in 10 appearances across all competitions, showing a return to his best form after hitting a low point.
Liverpool’s Champions League Performance: Liverpool has secured its place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a game to spare. They have achieved this by winning all seven of their Champions League matches this season. In their recent victory, Mohamed Salah scored his 50th goal in Europe for the club, while Harvey Elliott also contributed with a goal. The match ended 2-1 with Liverpool’s win against Lille. Liverpool head coach Arne Slot expressed that his priority was to secure direct passage to the last 16 rather than securing top spot in the group. Despite winning the match against Lille, Barcelona’s comeback win over Benfica means that Liverpool will need a point in their next match to guarantee top spot.
Arne Slot’s Perspective: Arne Slot highlighted the importance of securing a spot in the last 16 and expressed his preference to skip the play-off round. He noted that being a top seed doesn’t always guarantee an easier draw due to the current format of the tournament. Slot also praised Mohamed Salah for his outstanding performance and noted that Salah’s goal was a result of the players’ work rate in winning the ball back. He also mentioned that the team’s defensive strength stems from their attacking style of play, as he believes that attacking is a better way to keep clean sheets than defensive approach.
Defensive Record and Teamwork: Liverpool recently surpassed their club record of going nine hours and 59 minutes without conceding in the Champions League. However, Lille ended this run with a goal scored by Jonathan David. Slot attributes this defensive record to the quality and work rate of his players. He also acknowledged the contribution of Alisson, who has made fantastic saves in previous matches. This highlights the blend of defensive solidarity with attacking prowess, which has been key for Liverpool’s success. In particular, he emphasizes that Liverpool keeps clean sheets through attacking and not primarily through a defensive approach.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c5y7ldy45y0t
https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/reaction-podcast-slot-elliott-and-mac-allister-liverpool-2-1-lille
