Madridistas, the debate surrounding our current form has reached a boiling point, and the media finger-pointing has almost exclusively targeted our biggest star.
Whenever things look disjointed on the pitch, the easiest narrative for pundits to spin is that Kylian Mbappe isn’t tracking back enough or isn’t sacrificing himself for the badge. But one former Real Madrid man has had enough of that lazy analysis.
Former midfielder Alvaro Benito has stepped up to fiercely defend the French superstar, sending what appears to be a very direct message to Florentino Perez and the club’s hierarchy: Mbappe is not the problem; the squad building is.
Shielding the Best in the World
Speaking recently on SER, Benito did not hold back in his assessment of the team’s current struggles. Instead of joining the chorus of critics questioning Mbappe’s work rate, he highlighted that the tactical imbalances we are seeing go far beyond one player.
“Mbappe has come to a Real Madrid that has nothing to do with the one of years past. Madrid’s problem isn’t that Mbappé doesn’t sacrifice himself defensively; the problem is everything else.” — Alvaro Benito
Benito was quick to remind everyone exactly who we are talking about. When you have a generational talent leading the line, the tactical setup should empower him, not expose the team’s underlying structural flaws.
“Mbappe is, precisely, a top-level player. One of the few players on the squad that you can say is indisputable. He is one of the best in the world, if not the best in the world, in his position.”
A Direct Message to the Board?
The most alarming part of Benito’s analysis wasn’t just his defense of our number 9—it was his blunt assessment of our Champions League aspirations. For a club whose entire identity is built on European dominance, Benito’s words serve as a massive wake-up call regarding the depth and balance of the current roster.
- The Squad Void: While we boast arguably the best attacking lineup on the planet, Benito suggests that the overall machinery behind the attack is lacking the quality required to lift Europe’s biggest prize.
- Falling Behind Rivals: He candidly noted that while Madrid could win it purely on individual brilliance, there are currently “three or four better teams” with more cohesive, balanced squads.
“I think Mbappe’s problem at Real Madrid isn’t Mbappé himself, but what’s around him. I think Real Madrid doesn’t have a squad that aspires to be Champions League winners.”
What Does This Mean for the Future?
Benito’s comments echo a growing sentiment among the fanbase. We have seen brilliant individual performances, but the collective harmony that defined our recent Champions League runs often feels missing.
If a respected voice like Benito is publicly stating that the squad surrounding Mbappe isn’t up to the ultimate standard, it places the spotlight firmly back on the boardroom. Will Florentino Perez and the management team take heed and address the structural imbalances, or will they continue to rely on the sheer individual willpower of stars like Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. to bail out a disjointed system?
One thing is clear: it is time to stop scapegoating the generational talent up front and start asking harder questions about the foundation behind him.