Under the bright noise of Madrid, Kylian Mbappé has found an unusually forceful shield. José Mourinho used a 28-minute press conference on Friday to reject the off-field allegations aimed at the France forward, calling the recent controversy false and “ridiculous” before confirming that Mbappé will start against Villarreal on Saturday.
Key takeaways
- Mourinho said reports concerning Mbappé’s behaviour away from football had distorted ordinary situations.
- The Real Madrid coach explained that Mbappé attended a private Paris Fashion Week event, rather than a nightclub.
- He also dismissed claims around Mbappé riding a bicycle in Switzerland, saying the bikes were used to move around a quiet hotel complex.
- Mbappé has been recovering from a knee problem sustained while playing for France against Turkey two weeks ago.
- Mourinho said the forward fulfilled all of his duties and will not be left on the bench against Villarreal.
Mourinho challenges criticism of Mbappé
Mbappé has faced growing scrutiny for around a fortnight, with some Real supporters and sections of the Spanish media questioning his professionalism and example off the pitch. Mourinho responded in uncompromising fashion on Friday, insisting there was no substance to the accusations.
The Portuguese coach addressed two incidents that had been widely discussed. What had been portrayed as a nightclub visit was, he said, an invitation to a private Fashion Week function in Paris. The images of Mbappé on a bicycle in Switzerland were similarly misleading, Mourinho added: the player was staying at a hotel made up of small houses, where bicycles were available for guests to travel between the shared facilities.
“It is made to look as though he rode the Tour de Suisse,” Mourinho said, ridiculing the scale of the reaction.
He also criticised what he considered an attempt to turn the Santiago Bernabeu against the Frenchman ahead of Villarreal’s visit. Mourinho urged the Madrid crowd to be fair and intelligent, arguing that whistles for Mbappé would represent a success for those driving the story.
Recovery process and Villarreal decision
Mourinho said Mbappé had handled his rehabilitation properly after leaving the France match against Turkey with a knee injury two weeks earlier. Real Madrid had announced that he suffered a hyperextension of the posterior knee capsule.
The forward first returned to Madrid for an initial assessment before undergoing an external consultation because, Mourinho explained, his knee history required particular attention.
The coach made clear that disciplinary standards would not be relaxed for any player. He said a Real footballer who failed in his responsibilities as a player or citizen would not be selected, would not make the substitutes’ bench and would remain at home rather than be exposed to the crowd’s anger.
That, he stressed, is not Mbappé’s situation. “Mbappé will play on Saturday,” Mourinho said. “He will not be on the bench because he has not failed in his duties as a Real player.”
For Madrid, the issue carries sporting weight as well as public pressure. Mbappé has been the club’s leading scorer across the past three seasons and remains central to their attempt to win a major trophy again. On Friday, Mourinho made it clear that his striker has his manager’s full backing.
