Kylian Mbappé on José Mourinho’s turnaround at Real Madrid:
Kylian Mbappé: “Before Mister arrived at Madrid, I was genuinely excited. Not because we didn’t have good coaches before him, but because I knew José Mourinho would bring something different.
His ideas, the way he studies football and how he influences your thinking as a player are special. He doesn’t just tell you what to do; he makes you understand why.
I remember playing against him when he was at Benfica. Honestly, that was a very difficult game for us.
Benfica outplayed us for long periods. They controlled the midfield, were very physical and made it difficult for us to play our usual football.
So when I heard Mourinho was coming to Madrid, I knew we were going to experience something different.
His arrival brought a different energy to the dressing room. But what surprised me most was our first training session.
I was paired with Vini, and we were playing very well together. We combined, created chances and scored a few goals.
Honestly, I thought, ‘Okay, I must have impressed Mister.’ [laughs]
A few moments later, he called me over, gave me the ball and said, ‘Kylian, score with the ball.’
I picked it up and started running towards the goal. Before I could finish, he called me back.
He bounced the ball and told me to score with it. I started running again, but he stopped me for a second time..
Then he picked up the ball, placed it down and kicked it straight into the back of the net.
He gave me another ball and said, ‘Your turn. Score with it.’ I placed it down, struck it and scored.
I looked at him, wondering what he was trying to show me. Then he asked, ‘Did you understand why I showed you that?’
I told him honestly, ‘Not really, Mister.’
He looked at me and said, ‘Because the ball is faster than you, Kylian.’
Then he continued, ‘You don’t always need to carry the ball into the box before you can score. You don’t need to take another touch when the opportunity is already there.’
He told me, ‘All you need is precision and focus. Learn to use the ball. Remember, the ball is faster than you.’
Honestly, I was shocked. I’ve played football at the highest level for years, and I thought I understood almost everything about attacking.
But that session made me realise there were things I could still improve. Sometimes I rely so much on my speed that I forget the simplest solution can be the most effective.
I went away thinking about what he said. It wasn’t just about shooting from distance; it was about making decisions earlier and trusting my technique.
That training session changed my perception of Mourinho. I began to understand why he has such a reputation and why his teams are so difficult to play against..
He sees details that many people overlook, and he has a way of making you question things you’ve been doing for years.
Since he arrived, I feel there is a different level of belief in the team. Everybody understands that talent alone is not enough; you have to work, listen and be willing to improve.
For me personally, I want to become a more complete player. I want to score more, make better decisions and help this team win the biggest trophies.
And honestly, I believe with José in charge, I can win the Ballon d’Or. I know what I’m capable of, but I also know there is still more I can give.
Now, all I want is to fight for him, fight for this badge and give everything for Real Madrid. I want to win trophies here and make this team successful again.
When a coach makes you realise there’s another level to your game, you want to work even harder to reach it.
I’m ready to learn, ready to fight, and I want to win everything with José Mourinho.”