Mbappé's Interview: Mourinho is Among the Most Intelligent People I've Met

Real Madrid's top scorer, Kylian Mbappé, gave an exclusive interview to "AS," where he discussed many topics concerning the royal club.

"If you want to be part of football history, you have to play for Real Madrid," the Frenchman declared.

Here is Mbappé's full interview:

- You've been a Madridista for two years and a few months now. Is Real Madrid what that child who dreamed of playing here imagined?

- Yes, absolutely. I expected the best club in the world, I expected to receive a lot of enthusiasm from Madridistas worldwide. When I arrived here, I already had a certain status, but when you're a Real Madrid player, you move to another, higher level. I think if you want to belong to the history of football, you have to go through Real Madrid.

- And did you find what you were looking for?

- I found more peace. In France, I have less peace. I wanted to get to know a new culture, to adapt quickly to the Spanish one. I still have a little way to go, of course, but I think I'm doing better in Spain every day. There has never been a moment when I haven't felt happy here. Only at the beginning, when I didn't have a home. When you don't have one, you feel strange. You always want to go home, to be with your people. Since I got a home, I've always been happy in Madrid and in Spain.

- Do you dare to go out for a walk?

- Yes, but not that often. I can a little. I have peace, but... It's normal, it's part of my job and my life, and I accept it 100%. Yes, I live very well in Madrid. Really.

- Real Madrid, Spain, and the city of Madrid. Is this what you expected?

- Yes, 100%. Not 1% less than what I expected. Playing at the Bernabéu every week is a privilege. To have such support from the fans. In Spain, I discovered something I didn't expect. I received support from all over Spain. I really like living here. It was the first time I left my country, and it was an important moment in my life. I am very happy that I made this decision. Playing at the Bernabéu is always exciting because of its mythical status and history. Every match represents a new opportunity.

- I remember a visit with PSG to the Bernabéu, when you could see how much you admired the stadium. And we all thought: "He's admiring what will soon be his home." What were you thinking then?

- It was a bit different because playing with Real Madrid is a unique feeling. When I came with PSG, the Bernabéu wasn't finished. It was a fantastic stadium, but it wasn't ready. Some things were missing. I remember you saying I was looking at it and thinking I would play here... I remember it well. It was the day before a Champions League match, and there was a lot of noise at the stadium. People were working, and there was a loud noise from above, so we all looked up, thinking something might fall on our heads. Of course, I was excited – it's a fantastic and historic stadium, but at that moment, it was very noisy. From the day of my presentation and in every match I play, I have the feeling that this is something special.

- Does playing at the Bernabéu still excite you?

- Yes, always, always. It's a mythical stadium, you feel the weight of history, and every match is different. Everyone forgets what has happened and focuses on what's ahead. Every time you have the opportunity to do something new, and that's not seen in all stadiums around the world. I know that the team and I will experience many more magical nights at the Bernabéu. There's no better place in the world than one of those magical nights.

- Florentino Pérez pursued you for many years until he finally completed the transfer. What role did he play in your arrival?

- He is the man who brought me here. We maintained contact throughout the ten years before my arrival. He has always shown affection and understanding in the context of every decision made, both positive and negative for Real Madrid. He always told me that one day I would play for Real Madrid, and here I am, for which I am very happy. That's why I have to thank him for everything he has done and continues to do for me. He is the best president in the world.

- Was there anything specific that convinced you to come to Madrid?

- To be honest, nothing and no one needs to convince you to come to Real Madrid. In my history with Madrid, I wanted to come, but it wasn't possible, and ultimately in football, there are moments and decisions that don't depend on you. In football, there are matters of timing, and you have to wait for everything to turn green so you can go. Everyone around me knew that at some point I would want to go to Real Madrid. There was no doubt that I wanted to come, but sometimes, when something is impossible, you can't avoid it and you have to accept it. Of course, there's disappointment, but a footballer's life is about looking forward, not backward. No one had to convince me to come to Real Madrid, not even Florentino Pérez, as great as he is. It was something obvious.

- Was your last year at PSG difficult?

- Of course. And not everything is known. That's part of the journey in my life. I don't think I should criticize anyone two years later. It was 100% difficult, but that's in the past, and it was just another part I had to go through to achieve my dream.

- You've played for Ancelotti, for Xabi Alonso, for Arbeloa… and now for Mourinho.

- All four are important figures in the game. It's always a privilege to be part of the journey of all four. I learned things from all of them because they have very different views on football. They are winners in their careers, and you always learn, but it's true that with Mou, it's something different. He is one of the most intelligent people I have ever seen in my life. He is a leader. I knew it even before he arrived, but when you see him every day, you realize that he is a very special person and a legendary coach who has left his mark and will continue to do so with us. I'm sure of it.

- Did he challenge you to score 50 goals?

- No, he didn't tell me a specific number, he told me to score goals. I never set limits or goal targets for myself because you don't know what can happen in a season, and setting a number for goals means putting limits on yourself. And I don't want that. If I score many goals, I'm very happy; if I score fewer, I'm also happy, but I work in every match to help my team by being focused at all times.

- The best example was that assist to Espi for the win in Elche, right?

- Of course, it's obvious. I prefer to win, and if I have to pass the ball, I will. I think I could have scored, but Espi was alone, and the goal was 100% certain. I didn't think for a moment about the possibility of shooting.

- What do you think of those who say you only score goals?

- That's their opinion. Over the years, with experience, I've learned that in football, everyone has their own opinion, and you have to accept it. Sometimes they have the same vision as you, and other times, a different one. There's not just one way to win in football; there are millions of ways, so I'm always open to listening. There are people who just seek to hurt or wound you. To people who want to talk about football, with structure and an idea of the game, I'm always open to seeing things one way or another. You can learn from that too.

- The Ballon d'Or is on the horizon. What must a footballer possess to win it?

- It might have been a good year. But it's not up to me; my goal is always to help my teammates, to give my best, and to convince the people who vote. Ultimately, these are people like you who vote. My job is to convince the voters and to convince them with football.

- Is convincing with football your main argument?

- Always, always. That's the foundation of everything in my career. The foundation of everything is on the field, because I think I can speak well with my mouth, but I do it better when my feet speak. I always want to play with my feet. That's the best. The rest is part of football, but I always try to focus on the field, on what I can do while playing.

- Who are Mbappé's favorites to win it this year?

- That's not my problem, because I don't think about what I can do to win it. The most important thing for me is for the Ballon d'Or to return to Real Madrid; it's the best team in the world. It has to return to the Bernabéu, to the Madridistas, to return for all these people, to bring them joy. These people deserve it more than anyone else in the world. Being a Real Madrid player means fighting for all awards; the Ballon d'Or is an award, and I will fight to try to bring it back to Real Madrid. Many players have managed to bring it here, and I want to be one of them.

- Now is the time for individual awards, but also for laying the groundwork for collective successes, right?

- This is also part of building the victories for the collective awards that will come in the second half of the season. We can't sleep for six months and then say we want to win everything. Football isn't like that; it's not that easy. It doesn't work that way. That's why we are very focused now, with the coach, with the club, with the structure we have. We are very focused on what we need to do, but we have to show it on the field. As always.

- Do players on a team need to be friends?

- Not necessarily. I've always said that you don't have to have dinner every night with your teammates to win. You need to have respect, know everyone's role, and respect each other. That's the foundation of everything. You don't have to be the best friend in the world with everyone, but you must have respect. We need to be good, united, and work for the common good, which in your case is the success and glory of "AS," and in mine, Real Madrid. Are you friends with everyone at "AS"? This is more characteristic of the new generation of fans, because with social media, everything is under the spotlight. Why didn't someone shake hands, why isn't someone smiling... But that's normal. We know it's like that, and we try to do our best so that things that are sometimes not true are not seen. The most important thing is Real Madrid.

- You can't spend all day explaining everything...

- I think like you, but then the problem is that people give explanations instead of me. This is a very complex topic, but we only think about Real Madrid's victories. Madrid is more important than anything in the world, than any relationship, than any ambition. This is Real Madrid.

- Who do you get along better with: Vinicius or Bellingham?

- They are very different. On the field, they do completely different things. There are aspects of the game where it's better with Jude, others with Vini or Güler, with Brahim, Diomande, Espi... The latter will score many goals this season; he has a nose for goal.

- Which player would you bring to Real Madrid?

- Cristiano, Zidane, Ronaldo, if they could come back. Cristiano would come back. Zizou sometimes plays. And Ronaldo... quality is never lost. They are figures of Real Madrid. They have given a lot and continue to generate immense enthusiasm among Madridistas.

- Let's move on to the World Cup. What happened against Spain? Were they really as much better as they seemed?

- They won, and in football, when you win, you're right. I think we made a mistake with the initial game plan, and then against a team that likes to possess the ball, it's always harder when you're a goal down. It wasn't a good day for us, and in a World Cup, it's not like the Champions League – there's no second leg. We didn't play the match we should have, it's simple, and I think that was a missed opportunity for us, but we will work to have others.

- In recent years, France has won a World Cup, finished second, and reached a semi-final. Is France the best national team?

- I always say that the dominant one is the one who wins, and now the dominant team is Spain, because they won, and we have to accept it. Anyone who watches the matches sees that we always fight for all titles. We have quality, a team, players, but we have to give credit to the one who won. Spain is the best team in the world right now.

- And who was the best player at the World Cup?

- Several players stood out at this World Cup. After that, it's a matter of opinion, of the feeling you have for the game. Some will point to one, others to another. We saw quality in the matches. There were stars who came and showed they were stars. It was a good competition with many goals, and I think people will have good memories of the World Cup. Many players took responsibility. That's good, because ultimately, the World Cup is the most important competition. The tournament that the whole world watches and will remember. When you see the best players in the world proving themselves, making history, that's something people will remember for years.

- What do you think when you haven't scored in three or four consecutive games? Do you get obsessed?

- I don't wait for three or four; one is enough for me. A match without a goal is tough, but I really like that feeling, because if a player like me, who is used to scoring constantly, doesn't score in two matches, people see it and comment on it. That makes you angry, and you go into the next match with more determination to "kill" the critics. It hasn't happened to me many times in my career not to score in several consecutive matches. People encourage you, and if you take it correctly, it gives you more determination, and everything can return to normal.

- Is scoring goals an art?

- It's not just art. I think it's a way of existing, a way of looking at football every day, of having an obsession with scoring goals. All players who have scored a lot have had this connection with the goal; they know it's a special connection because it's a feeling we know very well and want to experience always. It's joy, a feeling of fulfillment that you want to live constantly. It's not easy, because otherwise everyone would be scoring goals. Not everyone scores, but that's not a bad thing. People think it's bad. Everyone has their job on the field. Not everyone scores goals, nor does everyone make good passes, nor do they press... For me, scoring goals is the hardest thing, but football is not easy in any position. At Real Madrid, which is the elite of world football, everyone here, on and off the field, is elite in their profession. It's not easy.

- When you get the ball near the penalty area, what do you look at first: a teammate or the goal?

- It depends, because it's the last action. In Elche, I looked at my teammate, and before that, when I scored a goal, I looked at the goal. Every moment is different. There's a context in every moment. It depends on who you're with, what position, what moment of the match. Every second you receive a huge amount of information, and you have to make a quick decision. That's why sometimes you don't make the right decision, because everything happens so fast that sometimes you think it's the best, and a second later you see it's not. But that's precisely what makes the magic of football.

- Titles are decided at the end of the season, but there's no room for complacency now...

- Team awards at the end of the year are prepared now. You have to build the foundation of your team, the collective level. We are in the process of building our victories for the second part of the season.

- The other day Lamine said that you and he are the best in the world...

- He is a player with immense talent, and I have a feeling he will have a great career. I wish him all the best, to him, his family, and his loved ones.

- Real Madrid is a team of world-class stars. Is Diomande at that level?

- He is at a certain stage of his journey. Diomande is growing right now. From his arrival at Valdebebas, from the very first day, we saw that he has qualities. Then people talk a lot during matches, about the 140 million and those things. He is young, 19 years old, but the quality is there. We see it, and he has already shown that he has what it takes. We try to protect him, him and all the players in the squad, because ultimately, we will need everyone. A season is very long, and if we want to fight for all titles, we cannot do it with just eleven people.

- And now comes the Madrid derby, a special match.

- It's a match we always want to play. A match with a lot of tension. We know that the derby means a lot to Madridistas, and also to us. These are the types of matches you can't wait to play, in this case away. I really like playing away from the Bernabéu. That's where you see the character of the players, and it's important to have character in such matches. We want to continue winning with sacrifice, with dedication, with character...

- Is Barcelona the big rival this season? They started very strong.

- Good for them. I don't like to talk about other teams because I'm not there, I don't know what they're doing. They've won matches, but it's only the beginning of the season.

- Send a message to the Madridistas who sometimes worry, so to speak.

- Demands. The message is demands. This is Real Madrid, I understand that. As in everything, there's context. Sometimes, when we win, they see that it was a tough match, but other times not so much. They need to feel that now we need the Bernabéu, because it's the best stadium in the world, we have the best fans in the world, and when they are with us, we are much stronger. But I also understand the demands. We didn't win anything last season, and people are fed up. There's a part that I understand is normal. But they also need to understand that if we want to win titles, we won't do it without them. With all the quality, with all the dedication... we won't win without them. What I want is for us to go together, hand in hand. That way, we will be much stronger and able to fight for everything.