After Real Madrid’s defeat, Kylian Mbappé took full responsibility for the loss and vowed to turn things around.
At the time, Real Madrid was trailing, and a golden opportunity to equalize came with a penalty. However, Mbappé failed to convert, missing yet another big chance shortly after his penalty miss against Liverpool. He took full responsibility for his failure and promised to respond by showing what he’s capable of in these tough times.
Around ten minutes after the penalty miss, Real Madrid equalized, with Mbappé playing a key role. His powerful shot from outside the box was saved by the goalkeeper, and the rebound was finished by Jude Bellingham. But Real Madrid’s defense couldn’t hold, and just minutes later, after a mistake by Fede Valverde, Athletic Bilbao capitalized and took the lead, ultimately winning 2-1.
Mbappé has faced criticism for his performance, especially after his penalty miss against Liverpool. However, he found some relief when he scored against Getafe in La Liga. Despite getting another penalty in that match, Mbappé didn’t take the shot, allowing Bellingham to step up instead. In this match, however, he missed another penalty, unable to deceive the goalkeeper or strike with power.
Though disappointed by his failure, Mbappé used social media after the game to share a message of resilience, determined to move forward. “Bad result. In a game where every little detail counts, this was a big mistake. I take full responsibility for it. It’s a tough time, but it’s the best moment to change things and show who I really am.”
Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala, after the match, shared his thoughts on Mbappé’s penalty, saying, “We do a lot of research on these things. I knew he was good at penalties, and even though he just missed one (against Liverpool), I thought he might shoot to the same side. Fortunately, that’s what happened.”
Mbappé wasn’t alone in accepting responsibility for mistakes. Fede Valverde, often seen as one of Real Madrid’s most consistent players, also expressed regret for his error. “Today was a big blow. I take responsibility, admit my mistake, and apologize.”
“I want to tell my teammates and fans that I know this is football, and anything can happen. But this isn’t new to me, and I never wanted to stop owning up to my mistakes. There’s still a long way to go, plenty of competition left, and lots of joy ahead.”
