Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has dismissed criticism of Kylian Mbappe over his activities during the international break, describing the controversy as “ridiculous”.
Mbappe withdrew from France duty after sustaining an injury against Turkey on September 25. However, the forward later drew attention after sharing pictures of himself attending a Paris Fashion Week event and riding a bicycle.
Mourinho, who had previously said cycling was against his rules, defended the France captain, insisting that Real Madrid players had fulfilled their responsibilities to the club during the break.
“When it comes to Real Madrid, it’s always different,” Mourinho said, according to BBC Sport. He added that the players had done what was expected of them, accusing critics of looking for unnecessary problems.
The Portuguese manager warned that any Real Madrid player who failed to meet the club’s standards would face consequences, including being left out of the squad.
He also dismissed concerns over images of Mbappe riding a bicycle in Switzerland, explaining that bicycles were available for guests at his hotel complex to use for short trips.
Asked about the criticism surrounding the forward, Mourinho said it was “ridiculous”. He added that Mbappe’s participation in Real Madrid’s next match would show that the player had met his obligations to the club.
Real Madrid have fallen six points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona after seven matches, increasing the pressure on the team to maintain consistency as the season progresses.
Mbappe, 27, remains among the leading contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or after scoring 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid last season. However, the club ended the campaign without a trophy.
The France captain also won the Golden Boot at the World Cup with 10 goals, taking his career tally at the tournament to a record 22, despite France finishing fourth.
