Kylian Mbappé Demonstrates His Class for Real Madrid in Manchester City’s Demise

Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick against Manchester City propelled Real Madrid into the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday, marking a new personal milestone for him with Los Blancos.

This was the type of night the French sensation envisioned as a child, surrounded by posters of Cristiano Ronaldo, and during his years at Paris Saint-Germain.

As PSG struggled year after year in Europe, Mbappe watched with envy as Madrid continued their domination on the continent, notching up an unprecedented 15 European Cup titles.

With Madrid experiencing a rocky start to the current season—partly due to Mbappe’s initial struggles—they found themselves in a play-off round against City and needed their star forward to step up.

With three clinical goals, he did just that, leading Carlo Ancelotti’s formidable Madrid to a 3-1 victory on the night and a 6-3 aggregate success.

“This is the type of game we aspire to play,” Mbappe remarked.

“People have spoken to me about these special nights, and now I’m experiencing it first-hand. I want to enjoy many more of these moments.“

After enduring years of speculation and failed attempts to sign him, Mbappe finally made his way to the Spanish capital last summer.

However, his initial period was fraught with challenges, including a notable dip in confidence and inconsistent performances.

Missed penalties against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao raised eyebrows, but Mbappe addressed the criticisms and vowed to showcase his true character.

With 18 goals in his past 18 matches, he has responded emphatically, delivering his standout performance in a Madrid shirt at the revered Santiago Bernabeu against City.

“I knew I couldn’t possibly perform worse than before,” Mbappe told Movistar after his stunning hat-trick against City.

“I had to play with confidence; my adjustment period was behind me, and I needed to display my quality.”

‘Sign with my blood’

Mbappe expressed that simply signing for Madrid to fulfil his long-held ambition was not sufficient.

“Realising my dream is one thing, but I want to excel here, make a mark, and etch my name in history with Real Madrid,” he elaborated.

“I’ve always stated that I have no limits; if I can score 50 goals, I will, and if I can score more, I’ll do that too — but the priority is winning trophies.

“Throughout my career, I’ve scored many goals, but we must consider whether they hold value, as we haven’t always clinched titles… If I score a substantial number of goals and we win trophies, I would sign for that with my blood.”

Mbappe boasts 28 goals in 38 appearances for Real Madrid, and his current form has drawn comparisons to the club’s legendary figures, despite him being in the early stages of his journey with Los Blancos.

“He possesses the talent to reach the level of Cristiano (at Madrid),” Ancelotti remarked to reporters.

“He needs to put in the work because Cristiano set an incredibly high standard; (Mbappe) is just beginning his time at this club.

“Given his skill and enthusiasm to play here, he has the potential to match Ronaldo’s level, but it won’t come easy; he must grind for it.“

The Portuguese legend scored 450 goals in 438 matches for Madrid after transferring from Manchester United in 2009, solidifying his status as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.

Mbappe’s childhood hero departed Madrid in 2018, and while Vinicius Junior has risen to prominence as a key player since then, Mbappe’s goal-scoring ability positions him as a strong candidate to replicate that impact.

Madrid will square off against city rivals Atletico Madrid or German champions Bayer Leverkusen in the next round, and Mbappe has expressed a preference for a derby match.

“Both fixtures would be challenging, so it’s better to face a tough game without the need to travel.” said Mbappe, eagerly anticipating the last 16 and more opportunities to shine for the club of his dreams.