Mbappe: “I’m a player who defends a little less than others, and sometimes that can be a problem”

TOPSHOT - France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe reacts after his attempt to score a goal that was not allowed for being offside, during a friendly football match between Colombia and France at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, on March 29, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Kylian Mbappé offered a raw and unfiltered look into his career and mindset during an appearance on The Bridge Podcast , where he was joined by Achraf Hakimi, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and comedian Malik Bentalha. The Real Madrid forward touched on a wide range of topics, from his relationship with the media to criticism of his playing style and his turbulent final year at Paris Saint-Germain.

Mbappé began by expressing his frustration with traditional interviews, describing them as confrontational rather than conversational. “I’m tired of interviews. The journalist is there to make you say what you don’t want to say, and you don’t want to say what he wants you to say.

It’s like a boxing match. ” He also addressed long-standing criticism about his defensive work rate, acknowledging the issue while explaining how it impacts the team dynamic. “I’m a player who defends a little less than others, and sometimes that can be a problem.

It’s true that I do it less, but I notice that when I do, it really impacts the team. At Real Madrid, when I do it, you can see that everyone else is doing it too. They criticize me for that, and it doesn’t bother me, because it’s constructive criticism.