Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 3-1 win over Stuttgart in their opening match of the UEFA Champions League, but Kylian Mbappe’s performance didn’t impress everyone. While the French forward found the back of the net, football pundit Steve McManaman expressed disappointment, calling Mbappe’s display “very average.”

Real Madrid’s Struggle to Dominate

Though Mbappe scored shortly after halftime, Real Madrid struggled to maintain their lead. Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav shocked the Santiago Bernabeu with an equalizer, forcing Real Madrid to rely on late goals from Antonio Rudiger and teenage sensation Endrick to seal the victory. McManaman, speaking on TNT Sports, believes that despite Mbappe’s goal, the forward failed to bring the level of excitement expected from him.

“When you’re talking about Kylian Mbappe and the player we know him to be, I thought he was very average tonight,” McManaman commented. “He got his goal, and yes, that will get him the headlines, but he didn’t really excite the crowd as much as we’ve seen in the past.”

Real Madrid Needs More from Mbappe and the Team

McManaman added that Real Madrid, known for their stellar European performances, have room for improvement. Despite the win, he feels the team could have been punished by a stronger opponent. “Better teams would have beaten them tonight. It’s a warning,” he cautioned.

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Real Madrid, currently trailing Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in La Liga, have yet to find their stride this season. McManaman noted that the team is not performing at the same level as they were when they defeated Borussia Dortmund in last year’s Champions League final.

Joe Cole Weighs in on Mbappe’s Positioning

Former England international Joe Cole also shared his thoughts, suggesting that Mbappe is still learning to maximize his potential. Cole believes that Mbappe is better suited to play off the left wing, rather than as a central striker.

“Kylian is world-class, but there’s still more to his game. He needs to come here with humility and recognize that there’s room for improvement if he wants to become the best player on the planet,” Cole said.

Real Madrid’s Road Ahead

Despite the criticism, Mbappe remains a key figure for Real Madrid, and with his goal-scoring ability, there’s no doubt he will continue to be pivotal. However, both McManaman and Cole believe the Frenchman needs to elevate his game to truly dominate on the world stage. As Real Madrid aims to regain their La Liga form, all eyes will be on Mbappe to see if he can live up to the immense expectations.