Kylian Mbappé used the spotlight after Real Madrid's meeting with RB Leipzig to back Vinícius Júnior and put the pressure on himself at the same time. Speaking after the match, he said Vinícius was fine, even if the winger was sad after the Bernabéu boos and the La Liga suspension that ruled him out against Barça.
Mbappé also made the point that his own standards are still higher than his output. He has 9 goals in La Liga this season, but he still told Europa Press: "I think I can do more, I am part of the few players that you always have to demand more from, it is never enough for a player like me. I always try to do more"
Vinícius under scrutiny
The backing for Vinícius matters because the scrutiny has been building. He has only 1 La Liga goal this season and a 6.88 rating in the league, so the boos at the Bernabéu did not arrive in a vacuum. Mbappé's defence was measured, but it was also direct about the mood around a teammate who wants to give more to the team and the supporters.
José Mourinho struck a similar note, saying the match he played was one he liked, while adding that more is always expected from Vinícius. He also pointed to the bench and the reaction around substitutions, saying that being booed at home hurts. Real Madrid beat RB Leipzig 4-1 in an earlier meeting between the sides, but the current Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig fixture is still to be played.
Madrid's bigger concern
Mbappé's own line is the more interesting one for Madrid. He has 6 points from 2 Champions League matches, siting 9th in the table, and he has already said every point is important to get into the Top 8. That is why this was not just a defending-a-teammate soundbite. It was a reminder that Madrid's front line is being judged on more than results, and that the bar inside the squad is rising before Sunday.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
