Kylian Mbappé criticized Real Madrid for their lack of teamwork and inconsistent performance after a 4-2 loss to Benfica, which knocked them out of the Champions League top eight.
Despite scoring two goals at the Estadio da Luz—bringing his total to 13 Champions League goals this season—Mbappé could not stop his team from falling to ninth place, forcing them into a playoff next month to secure a spot in the knockout stage.
Benfica’s goalkeeper Anatoliy Turbin scored a last-minute header, triggering jubilant celebrations in Lisbon, as the home team advanced to the playoffs in 24th position.
“This isn’t about quality or tactics,” Mbappé remarked in the post-match mixed zone when asked about the loss. “It’s about having more desire than the opponent.”
“You could see that Benfica had everything to fight for, but that fire was missing from us, and that’s a problem. Before the match, both teams had stakes: we aimed for the top eight while Benfica needed to secure a playoff spot. Benfica’s determination was evident, ours was not.”
Madrid has endured a rocky season, with coach Xabi Alonso being dismissed recently. However, under interim coach Álvaro Arbeloa, they appeared to be improving, highlighted by a 2-0 victory against Villarreal the weekend prior.
“I can’t pinpoint exactly why,” Mbappé added. “Our performance against Benfica wasn’t the same as against Villarreal, and that’s a problem. Consistency eludes us, and we need to address that.”
“Champions don’t perform well one day and poorly the next. We have two more matches left, which stings. We hoped to use February to enhance our gameplay, but now we face playoffs.”
This season, Madrid lost three of their eight group stage matches, falling to Liverpool, Manchester City, and now Benfica.
“In the Champions League, every detail matters if you want to win,” Mbappé emphasized. “Benfica showed that if you don’t come prepared, your opponent will take advantage.”
“It’s incredibly disappointing to lose like this,” commented midfielder Jude Bellingham. “Right now, I’m at a loss for words, unsure of what to think. We have immense talent, but we need to match it with a consistent mentality, regardless of the opponent.”
Madrid will either face Benfica again or Bodo/Glimt in the playoffs, with the draw scheduled for Friday.
“I wish I could say it was just one issue, but it involves many factors,” coach Arbeloa reflected. “The duels, both with and without the ball. We were far from our potential and have significant improvements to make.”