Gareth Bale insists Kylian Mbappe remains the best player in the world ‘on his day’ despite his poor performance in Real Madrid’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
France’s World Cup winner had an evening to forget at Anfield as he capped a subdued display by seeing his penalty saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher in the second half.
Mbappe has now scored just one goal in his last six appearances for Madrid but Bale is confident the 25-year-old will begin to shine for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
‘It does happen, I’ve missed penalties, everyone’s missed penalties,’ Bale told TNT Sports.
‘It’s just kind of unfortunate at the moment that it’s not quite going Mbappe’s way.
‘I think on his day he’s the best player in the world and I think it’s just a matter of time before he becomes good.’
Meanwhile, Luka Modric is adamant that Mbappe will begin to make an impact for Madrid.
‘We see him doing well, training well, with confidence,’ Modric told Movistar after Madrid’s defeat.
‘Sometimes he comes out, other times he doesn’t. Today he didn’t come out, especially the penalty.
‘But we have confidence and I’m sure Kylian will do what is expected of him.’
Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos echoed Modric’s verdict on Mbappe.
‘Kylian is working hard, nobody knows that better than us,’ he said.
‘Things are not going well, he is not scoring the goals he wants to score. It is difficult to settle in a club like Madrid, but Kylian will do it. I am sure of it.’
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