Mbappe calm ahead of latest Champions League bid, says Alonso

Xabi Alonso insists Kylian Mbappe is not feeling anxious ahead of the start of his latest pursuit of Champions League glory.

Los Blancos begin their quest for a record-extending 16th triumph in the competition against Marseille at Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.

Madrid’s title defence fell at the quarter-final stage last season, after a 5-1 aggregate defeat at the hands of Arsenal, while it spelt the end of Mbappe’s most recent bid to add the Champions League to his impressive list of honours.

Indeed, Europe’s premier club competition has, thus far, eluded the forward, who won the 2018 World Cup with France and is a seven-time Ligue 1 winner, while he was part of the Paris Saint-Germain side beaten by Bayern Munich in the 2020 final.

The France forward has registered 79 goal involvements (55 goals and 24 assists) in 87 Champions League appearances.

Though if Mbappe is feeling pressure to land the prize, Alonso is adamant he is not showing it.

“He doesn’t look it to me,” the Madrid boss said when asked if the France captain was anxious. “We’re all well aware that this a project in its early stages.

“As part of playing for Madrid, one of the goals along the way is always to win the Champions League. I hope it happens sooner rather than later, and that we’re following the right path to get there. Kylian is part of that.

“Given his personality, his experience and the influence he has on others. He’s one of the leaders and when the group is strong and consolidated, the rest of the squad know who they have to look at, whose example they should follow. Kylian is one of them.”

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— Real Madrid C.F.