Mbappe offers far more than goals, says Real Madrid coach Alonso

Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso says French superstar Kylian Mbappe is contributing far more to the team than just his remarkable scoring form.

Mbappe netted four goals against Olympiacos in the Champions League last week, taking his tally to an impressive 23 goals in just 19 appearances across all competitions this season. In recent weeks, he has also urged unity within the squad as Madrid continue to struggle for consistency under Alonso.

“He’s been excellent individually and is helping the team a great deal,” Alonso told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s La Liga clash against Athletic Bilbao. “With Kylian, it’s not only about the goals (although of course those matter) but he brings leadership, influence, and support for his teammates. Those qualities are vital every single day.”

Real Madrid sit one point behind champions Barcelona after being held to a third consecutive league draw, this time by Girona. Spanish media reports suggest Alonso’s position could come under scrutiny if results do not improve.

Alonso admitted he recently met club president Florentino Perez to discuss the team’s dip in form.

“The conversations have been positive and constructive. The focus is on improving results — that’s what we talked about,” he said, acknowledging the team’s inconsistency. “We’ve lacked rhythm and consistency in our play. We want to be better in the next match. We’ve lost some sharpness and energy.”

Madrid will also be without French left-back Ferland Mendy for the trip to Bilbao. The defender has been diagnosed with a hamstring injury, the club confirmed Tuesday –just days after making his first appearance of the season following a thigh problem. Spanish outlets report that Mendy is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks.