Mbappe spoke ahead of Real Madrid's biggest match of the season so far, easing fans' concerns over his physical condition.
For many fans, the Champions League quarterfinal between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich is an early final; beyond sporting success, enormous prestige is at stake for two of the most important clubs in world football. Kylian Mbappe is well aware of this importance.
"Yes, of course I want to win with Real Madrid," Mbappe said on TF1's "Telefoot" program, adding with a smile: "In Spain, there are people who are a little worried that I won't play, they think I will go straight to the World Cup. But this is extremely important. We are still fighting for the league and the Champions League."
And although Bayern have not won a match against Real Madrid in more than 14 years, Mbappe is aware of the strength of manager Vincent Kompany's side. "In the Champions League, we face a great team, probably the one in the best form right now," said the 27-year-old.
In the last four head-to-head meetings between the two clubs, Real Madrid has always come out on top, and once again, the club appears calm ahead of the clash against Bayern, with Mbappe confident that "if there is a team capable of beating them, it is Real Madrid."
The club has recovered its former level under manager Alvaro Arbeloa, although they went through a serious crisis immediately after the dismissal of Xabi Alonso, when they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey in the round of 16 after a 2-3 defeat to Albacete, a second-division side. It was not uncommon for Real Madrid's stars to endure loud jeers from their own fans at the Bernabeu.
"In Spain, people are very passionate. For them, Real Madrid is like a religion," Mbappe explained. "And everything related to Real Madrid and me gives rise to comments and speculation. Sometimes rightly so, sometimes not."
"But you have to know how to deal with criticism. At Real Madrid, everyone has been criticized, Ronaldo, Di Stefano," Mbappe continued, adding that he understands "why I should not be an exception. You simply have to stay calm, focus on what needs to be done, and tell yourself that you can improve your performance on the pitch."
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