Kylian Mbappé wanted to prevent the dismissal of coach Xabi Alonso at all costs.
Superstar Kylian Mbappé apparently risked his health to “save” Xabi Alonso’s job at Real Madrid. This was reported by the French sports newspaper L’Équipe the day after the coach’s dismissal.
Mbappé was substituted in during the final phase of Alonso’s last game, the 2:3 defeat against FC Barcelona in the Supercopa – although his return after knee problems was not yet expected.
Xabi Alonso and Kylian Mbappé apparently had a good relationship
The injured striker “sensed that a defeat against Barça would most likely mean the end for his coach,” states the L’Équipe report. Alonso himself is also said to have a premonition of doom.
Mbappé extremely successful under Alonso
The unfortunate coach therefore explicitly pushed for a quick comeback. But even though Mbappé was actually supposed to be out for another week, he complied with the coaching staff’s requests. Despite several warnings.
Mbappé was the first player to publicly bid farewell to Alonso with an Instagram post, thanking him for their time together. While the former Bundesliga coach was rumored to have a strained relationship with stars like Vinícius Júnior, he apparently got along well with the Frenchman.
Mbappé scored 29 goals in 25 games (five assists) under Alonso. In the Supercopa, however, he could no longer provide a goal or assist that might have prevented the former Real player’s dismissal.