Mbappe Not Anxious To Win Champions League – Alonso

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has revealed that Kylian Mbappe is not anxious to win the UEFA Champions League trophy as Los Blancos prepare to face Marseille.

The French forward left PSG last summer to join Real Madrid only to see his former club win the competition for the first time in their history last season.

Real Madrid will open their 2025-26 Champions League campaign against Marseille at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.

Alonso is convinced that Mbappe is not anxious to win the competition for the first time.

He said: “He’s not anxious, we all feel this is a project that’s just starting.

“One of the objectives is to win the Champions League hopefully sooner rather than later, Kylian is part of the path to getting there, but I don’t think he’s anxious.

“Today we spoke about what the Champions League means, but we were not talking about May (and the final), we were talking about the near future.”

Mbappe was in action when Real Madrid lost scandalously to PSG in the Club World Cup in July with the Spanish side going down 4-0.

Alonso said: “Gastroenteritis meant it was Kylian ‘lite’ at the Club World Cup.

“Without doubt (he’s a leader), for his personality, experience, the influence he has on the others, he’s one of them.

The Spanish manager said managing Real Madrid in the competition is a privilege.

Alonso concluded: “It’s a fact, unquestionable, an honour, a motivation and it is a responsibility you live with and enjoy. It’s a privilege.

“We’re approaching it with the excitement levels that come with playing for Real Madrid in the Champions League. It’s special for this team, and playing at the Bernabéu, with all of that history, is even greater motivation. The guys are eager to keep making progress, to keep growing and to face tough, top-level opposition. We’re up against a very good team tomorrow and we hope to start strongly.”

Real Madrid crashed out of the Champions League following a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Arsenal in the quarter-finals last season.

The 15-time winners of the competition will take on the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Juventus, Marseille, Monaco and Kairat Almaty in the first round of this season’s edition.

Mbappe Not Anxious To Win Champions League – Alonso is first published on The Whistler Newspaper