‘Mbappe can’t do it alone’ – Former Madrid star Benzema wants more from Vinicius and Bellingham
Kylian Mbappe has already scored 18 goals this season, but he needs more support from those around him, according to Karim Benzema.
Kylian Mbappe cannot deliver Champions League glory to Real Madrid by himself, former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema said as he called on the likes of Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham to communicate better with their talisman.
Mbappe has already scored 18 goals in all competitions this season for Los Blancos, who are three points clear of Barcelona in the LaLiga title race and seventh in the Champions League table after taking nine points from a possible 12.
But Madrid were comfortably second best in their most recent Champions League encounter, a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
Madrid are still in an excellent position to go through to the knockout rounds and will be expected to do so as one of the top eight teams that go immediately into the last 16.
Yet Mbappe’s former France team-mate Benzema, who won five Champions League titles with Madrid, believes more support is needed for the former Paris Saint-Germain star if Xabi Alonso’s side are to claim a record-extending 16th European crown.
“What we expect from Kylian is that when he gets the chance, he’ll score it,” Benzema told AS.
“That’s how Real Madrid is. Real Madrid need him a lot, and there are games where he has to score, like vs Atletico Madrid, Liverpool… These are teams that sit back, and he has to step up, work those situations.
“He has to combine with Vini Jr. Real Madrid is waiting for Mbappe for these moments, to bring home the Champions League. I think he can do it with the other players. He can’t do it alone.
“He needs Vini Jr, other players… that’s just how it is. I think Vini Jr, Mbappe, Rodrygo, Bellingham – they have to communicate.
“One is there to score goals, another to provide assists. We’re not going to tell Bellingham to score goals because that’s Mbappe’s job, nor are we going to tell him to be the number 10 because that’s Bellingham’s role.
“They need to talk. He’s now better, but he needs to focus more on these moments when Real Madrid needs him because he has everything he needs to do it.”