Kylian Mbappe faces pressure entering his third season at Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappe begins his third season at Real Madrid without a major trophy as the club enters a campaign under returning manager Jose Mourinho. During a press conference ahead of the Champions League, the forward addressed external criticism regarding his defensive work rate and his partnership with Vinicius Jr. Madrid currently trails league leaders Barcelona after a 1-0 loss to Real Betis where Mbappe missed a late penalty. Media scrutiny continues to compare the team’s current performance to Paris Saint-Germain’s recent successes. Mbappe maintains that he remains the world's top player while acknowledging the need for collective improvement in both attacking and defensive phases.

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