Mourinho Shuts Down Mbappe Criticism: 'It's Absurd'

Kylian Mbappe is back in training with Real Madrid this week, and the spotlight is on him after some recent controversy. Real Madrid's head coach, Jose Mourinho, has stepped up to defend Mbappe, calling the criticism he's faced 'absurd.' The French captain pulled out of international duty due to an injury sustained against Turkey on September 25. After his withdrawal, Mbappe was spotted at a Paris Fashion Week event and biking, which Mourinho had previously said was against his rules. But Mourinho insists that the situation has been blown out of proportion. "When it comes to Real Madrid, it's always different," Mourinho stated. "All the players did exactly what they were supposed to during the break. Yet, there's always a hunt for problems." He made it clear that if a Real Madrid player steps out of line, they won't be sitting on the bench—they'll be at home. He clarified that the image of Mbappe biking in Switzerland was misrepresented; the hotel offered bicycles for guests to use for short trips. When asked if the media coverage of Mbappe was over the top, Mourinho didn't hold back. "Exaggerated? No, it’s ridiculous," he shot back. "If Mbappe plays tomorrow, it’s because he has not failed Real Madrid and has met his commitments to the club." Currently, Real Madrid finds themselves six points behind league leaders Barcelona after seven matches. At 27 years old, Mbappe is a strong contender for this year’s Ballon d'Or, having netted 42 goals in 44 games last season, despite the team not clinching any trophies. He also made headlines at the World Cup, winning the Golden Boot with ten goals, bringing his total World Cup tally to a record-breaking 22, even as France ended up in fourth place.