"Selfish" Kylian Mbappe slammed by French, Spanish media after Real Madrid defeat

By Ben Knapton | 05 Sep 2026 10:29, Last updated: 05 Sep 2026 10:29

The archetypal setback of the caller Jose Mourinho epoch astatine Real Madrid arrived connected Friday evening, erstwhile Los Blancos were condemned to a 1-0 decision to Real Betis connected the 4th matchday of La Liga.

Troy Parrott - a erstwhile Tottenham Hotspur occurrence of Mourinho's - made the decisive publication successful the 81st minute, pouncing connected a escaped shot to decorativeness from adjacent scope aft Real Madrid failed to woody with a corner.

Controversy inevitably followed, arsenic Blancos substitute Carlos Espi had a precocious equaliser disallowed for offside, earlier Mbappe's injury-time punishment was kept retired by Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles.

An incensed Real Madrid portion believed that the spot footwear should person been retaken owed to evident encroachment from Marc Bartra, but their protests were waved away, arsenic the Spaniard's ft had not touched the turf wrong the container astatine the nonstop constituent that Mbappe made interaction with the ball.

The latter's spot-kick gaffe capped disconnected a miserable show some collectively and individually, arsenic Mbappe missed 4 large chances and mislaid 8 duels, statistic that saw him slammed successful the French and Spanish media.

What person the French and Spanish media said astir Kylian Mbappe?

Mbappe scored conscionable 2/10 successful the Journal du Real subordinate ratings, which highlighted a "performance to forget" from the France international, accusing him of failing to measurement up to the sheet erstwhile his broadside needed him most.

Mbappe's "stingy" pressing and "imprecise" method prime were besides lambasted, portion Le Parisien acknowledged that the attacker had experienced a "rare night" of joylessness successful beforehand of goal.

Foot Mercato highlighted Mbappe's "astonishing" miss aft Vinicius Junior laid the shot connected a sheet for his attacking colleague, arsenic with the goalkeeper retired of the equation, his archetypal anemic changeable deed a Betis defender earlier helium was besides thwarted connected the follow-up.

Spanish outlet ELDesmarque was the harshest of the low, awarding Mbappe a meagre 1/10 owing to his "wasteful" finishing and "selfish" play with the shot astatine his feet successful unsafe areas.

What did Jose Mourinho accidental astir Kylian Mbappe?

Head manager Mourinho, connected the different hand, refused to outright criticise Mbappe for his underwhelming display, alternatively taking contented with the refereeing decisions that went against his side.

The Portuguese had nary problems with the exertion of his players - barring a consciousness of 'naivety' - and specifically referenced the Mbappe punishment incidental successful his post-game property conference.

"The Betis players are smarter than the Real Madrid players, who are pure, naive," Mourinho told reporters. "We’re naive in the consciousness that Betis players effort to power the referee's determination implicit the smallest things.

"But I'm very happy with my players, each of them. As a team, I truly liked them, and individually I person perfectly thing to criticise. And the missed penalty [by Mbappe] is similar I ever say: erstwhile 1 of america goes to instrumentality a penalty, we each spell together."

Real Madrid are adjacent successful enactment astatine location to Inter Milan successful Tuesday's Champions League opener, earlier hosting Rayo Vallecano successful La Liga adjacent Saturday.