Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé surprised those present at his press conference ahead of the Champions League clash with Inter Milan with a sharp, sarcastic response when asked about comparisons between him and Ousmane Dembélé and Raphinha in terms of pressing opponents and defensive duties, before shifting to a more serious answer about what he needs to develop on the pitch.
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During the press conference, the French forward spoke about the upcoming match against Inter, his relationship with Vinícius Júnior, working with coach José Mourinho, and his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or.
Mbappé Rejects Comparisons with Dembélé and Rafinha
A journalist put Mbappé in a direct comparison with Dembélé and Raphinha, asking whether he, along with Vinícius, needed to press more, given that PSG and Barcelona's players take on that role more heavily.
Mbappé responded sarcastically: "If I wanted to give a stupid answer, I'd say I score more goals than the players you mentioned, so they need to score more to become like me. Every player has different qualities."
He then moved to the serious side of his answer, saying: "But I'm smart, so I'll say I need to improve. That said, I don't like comparisons, because I do a lot of things that others don't."
He continued: "We all need to improve, that's natural for any player. Everyone is different, and we have to do things intelligently. I don't like comparisons because it's an endless debate. We all need to develop in this area, and the same goes for when we have possession of the ball. That's just the nature of life within a top-level team."
Mbappé on Mourinho, Goals, and Titles
Kylian Mbappé praised working with José Mourinho, saying: "I look at the bigger picture in order to get the best version out of the 11 players. I know people love focusing on these things because that's what sells, but I think with a team mentality and how we can improve. Mourinho is someone who knows how to win, and how to pass that mentality on to those around him. He motivates the whole club and his group, and the most important thing is winning matches."
Mbappé addressed comments made by José Mourinho, who said he'd rather see Mbappé score 40 goals and win trophies than score 60 goals without winning any titles, responding: "I'd prefer even fewer than that, even 30 goals. I won't say this is a debate for people who don't understand football, but it's certainly a silly debate."
He added: "If I score 40 goals and we're competing for the league, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey, should I stop scoring because if I score more we won't win? Of course I want to win titles, but it's not a choice between the two. You have to do both: score goals and win titles."
Mbappé: The Santiago Bernabéu Gives Us Extra Motivation
The Real Madrid star spoke about the match against Inter, stressing that playing at the Santiago Bernabéu is an extra factor that motivates the team ahead of the European clash.
He added: "It will be a tough match, but it's the Champions League, and that's why we feel great joy playing it."
Is Mbappé the Best Player in the World?
Mbappé's name came up strongly when the conversation turned to his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or. The France captain said: "When you play for Real Madrid, people associate you with this award. A lot of people talk to me about the Ballon d'Or, and that's a positive thing. I made history this summer, but we'll see. It's a good year to win it, and in the end it's up to the people who vote."
Asked whether he considers himself the best player in the world, he replied: "I always feel that I am, but that's a very personal thing. Everyone has their own opinion, some will say yes and others will say no. It's up for debate, and not everyone has to think like me. This year might be a good one to win the Ballon d'Or, but it's the journalists who vote, and they're the ones who'll choose."
Mbappé on Vinícius's Role at Real Madrid
The conversation turned to Mbappé's relationship with Vinícius Júnior and how well they gel together. The Frenchman said: "I don't know, that's an opinion held by millions. Real Madrid is the biggest club, and I can't control what's said. We have the same goal, which is winning titles. We can't control people's opinions, and we're always trying to improve."
The French forward also revealed how his role with the France national team differs from his role at Real Madrid, saying: "I have two different roles with the national team and the club. There, I have to take a step forward, I'm the captain. Here, I'm not."
Mbappé continued: "As a player, I want to develop, whether in reading the game, knowing when to attack and when to hold back, as well as managing emotions. I've had different experiences and perspectives with many coaches, and that's helped me a lot. There are many matches within a single match."
Losing the World Cup Fuels Mbappé's Hunger to Win
Mbappé touched on the impact of France's loss to Spain in the World Cup final, saying the defeat increased his desire to win the Champions League, explaining: "They're of course two different things. Not winning the World Cup was a difficult moment. I think it was actually a positive experience for us in terms of creating a bond with France and the energy around the national team."
He added: "We won the World Cup once, and we can't always win no matter how much we want to. After every defeat, you always have a greater desire to win."
Mbappé Comments on PSG's Champions League Title
At the end of the press conference, Mbappé was asked about PSG winning the Champions League after his departure, and whether he saw any connection between the two things.
He replied: "I can't change that. I can't speak in general terms; this doesn't concern me much."
He closed with a comment carrying a clear message about the constant media attention on him: "I don't know everything about football, but I know more than a lot of people. I'm calm. Sometimes things aren't really analysis, they're just things that sell, and talking about me sells a lot."
