A damning Kylian Mbappe stat is going viral after Real Madrid’s damaging defeat to AC Milan and confirms what Thierry Henry suspected following his CBS Sports analysis.
Real suffered a crushing 3-1 home defeat to Milan on Tuesday.
Zinedine Zidane, who has enjoyed two managerial spells at the club, was spotted at the Bernabeu amid reports he could replace Carlo Ancelotti, whose job is under threat following the club’s recent run of form.
Prior to the Champions League tie against Milan, Ancelotti highlighted Mbappe’s lack of work out of possession as a big issue in his side.
And a stat seems to back the veteran Italian manager’s claim.
On Reddit, a stat about how much Mbappe ran emerged and it doesn’t paint a good picture. The post read: “Mbappe is the least player to run in the last CL game .. this explains a lot since he doesn’t press or help in defence or recovering Ball.”
Per the graphic, he has run an average of 8.97km during this season’s Champions League campaign.
Out of the select group of players, he was placed last behind the likes of teammate Vinicius Jr as well as Erling Haaland and Rafael Leao.
Lille’s Jonathan David, Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz and Arsenal’s Kai Havertz are among the players who have covered the most distance in the Champions League this season.
Speaking after Real’s defeat to Milan, Arsenal legend Henry expertly broke down why Ancelotti’s side are struggling as he referenced Mbappe.
“It’s always Bellingham trying to make the run, trying to make the team play, running in behind, trying to break the line,” he began.
“I think there is a little frustration. Your nine isn’t going, and your 10-ish is going. I know it can happen sometimes but not all the time. Every single time. I know he’s not a number nine and that this maybe is not what he likes to do. Do you think he likes to make those runs, try and stretch the team?
“He’ll do it because he has to do it, because his desire speaks, his will speaks.”
The Frenchman added: “You don’t win games like that. You don’t win games with your 10 breaking the line, coming back, trying to bend his run, trying to defend, trying to go the other side. And then after, he gets substituted?
“I would have been upset too – I saw him kicking a bottle. I would be upset also, of course. For me, this is not good enough and I don’t think they are playing well as a team but on the ball also he (Mbappe) has to do way more.”