Kylian Mbappe attributes his improved performance at Real Madrid to a significant penalty miss against Athletic Club.

Kylian Mbappe has opened up about hitting “rock bottom” after a crucial penalty miss for Real Madrid earlier this month, a moment he believes has spurred him to improve his form on the pitch.

The French forward faced intense scrutiny following a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Athletic Club on December 4, where he failed to convert a penalty while his side was trailing 1-0 in Bilbao. This miss only added to the growing criticism surrounding his performances since his high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain, as Real Madrid struggled to find consistency in the first half of the season.

However, Mbappe has since turned his fortunes around, scoring against Sevilla and providing an assist in a thrilling 4-2 victory in La Liga on Sunday. This resurgence follows his opening goal in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Pachuca in Qatar, where he secured his second trophy with the club.

“I can do a lot more,” Mbappe stated confidently. “I know that I have a lot more in my legs. In the last few games, I’ve played better. The game in Bilbao was good for me. I hit rock bottom; I missed a penalty. It was the moment to realise that I have to give my all for this shirt and play with more personality.”

His penalty miss in Bilbao was not an isolated incident, as it followed another failure from the spot against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League, and just days after he declined the opportunity to take a penalty against Getafe. Yet, since that disappointing defeat, the No. 9 has found his scoring touch, netting six goals in December alone.

“We’ve improved in recent months,” Mbappe reflected. “It was a difficult game; we were a bit tired after the trip to Qatar. But we did well from the start, scoring good goals and playing on the front foot. I think Madrid fans will be happy today.”

The forward also noted the growing understanding within the team, saying, “I think we’ve gotten to know each other better. I came into the team, and that changes a lot of things, but now, as manager Carlo Ancelotti has said, my adaptation has finished, and I feel good. We can see on the pitch that I understand my teammates better, and the whole team is playing better.”

Ancelotti echoed Mbappe’s sentiments, acknowledging that the squad has “gone back to doing things well.” He remarked, “It’s been demanding for the squad, but little by little, the team, and Mbappe too, have got back to doing things well. We’re excited about 2025.”

The Italian manager also highlighted the importance of addressing issues within the dressing room following a defeat to AC Milan, stating, “After the defeat against Milan, we sorted things out in the dressing room, speaking clearly. We’ve fixed it.. We still have some frailty, without Dani Carvajal, without Eder Militao, without David Alaba, so we’ve tried to strengthen our qualities in attack.”

As the Liga Christmas break approaches, Real Madrid finds themselves just a point behind Atletico Madrid in the table, while holding a two-point cushion over Barcelona, despite suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to Hansi Flick’s side earlier in the season. The coming weeks will be crucial for Mbappe and his teammates as they aim to build on their recent form and challenge for silverware in the new year.