Arsenal and France legend Robert Pires has shared his views on Kylian Mbappe’s current form, stating that he is facing significant criticism in both France and Spain. 

This scrutiny comes as Mbappe is not delivering decisive performances many expected from him at Real Madrid. He has struggled to create goal-scoring chances and hasn’t shown the sharp edge he’s known for, which has led to fans voicing their concerns about his form.

“He is facing strong criticism in both France and Spain, as he is not at his best. Currently, he is not decisive for Real Madrid and is not scoring or creating many goal-scoring opportunities,” he began saying as quoted by MARCA.

Not matching the expectations

Pires pointed out that the anticipation around Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid was immense. Fans had envisioned him making a big impact from the outset. 

“Real Madrid fans had high expectations for Mbappé since his arrival at the Merengue team.” 

However, the legend noted that adapting to a new country, club, and set of teammates can be a tough transition, especially when stepping into a squad that boasts some of the world’s top players. 

“However, changing country, team and teammates is not easy, especially when it comes to a club with the best players on the planet,” he said.

Asking for improvement

To address the issues Mbappe is facing, Pires suggested that he must respond to the criticism constructively. This could involve adjusting his style of play, accepting that he isn’t in peak form, and actively working on ways to enhance his on-field contributions. 

“Mbappe must face these criticisms, change his style of play, recognize that he is not at his best and improve his performance.”

When asked if joining Real Madrid was the right decision given that Vinicius Jr., occupies a similar position, Pires responded that Mbappe has always dreamed of playing for Real Madrid. 

“Mbappe dreamed of playing for Real Madrid. He knows perfectly well that Vinícius, who is an exceptional player, plays in the same position as him, is decisive and scores a lot of goals,” he said. 

To succeed, Pires suggested that Mbappe will need to adapt to Real Madrid’s tactical setup and to the reality of sharing the spotlight with another elite player. 

“Mbappe must adapt to this situation and to the different tactics of the team. Turning down Real Madrid is difficult for any player.”

Role of Ancelotti

Pires also highlighted that Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, could play a key role in helping Mbappe find his best form. 

According to Pires, Ancelotti needs to devise tactical adjustments that allow both Mbappe and Vinícius to thrive together on the field, maximizing their respective strengths.

“The solution is for Mbappe to adapt to Real Madrid’s tactical style, and it is Ancelotti’s job to find tactical solutions that suit both Mbappe and Vinicius.”

Lastly, regarding rumours of a rift between Mbappe and France’s national team coach Didier Deschamps, Pires dismissed the notion. He clarified that Mbappe’s exclusion from the national team call-up is simply a reflection of his recent form. 

“There is no conflict between Mbappe and Deschamps. What happens is that Mbappe is not at his usual level, and Deschamps informed him by phone that he would not call him up.” 

Deschamps had reportedly informed Mbappe of his decision, explaining that he wouldn’t be included this time. 

“Mbappe is a very important player for the France national team, and from my perspective, giving him a rest at this moment is neither a problem nor a crisis,” he added.

In Pires’s eyes, a temporary break could be just what Mbappe needs to recharge and get back to his best. The focus now is on Mbappe’s willingness to adapt, improve, and work with Real Madrid’s management and team structure to meet the high expectations surrounding him.