Former Real Madrid manager insists ‘whole team has to change a bit’ following dodgy start | OneFootball

In a recent interaction with MARCA, Bernd Schuster spoke at length about La Liga in general as well as his personal life.

However, what caught the attention was his statements on Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe, amid the club’s muted start to the new season.

Schuster on Mbappe’s woes

Schuster commented on Mbappe and his mixed start to life at Real Madrid. Although the forward has netted five La Liga goals, three of them have come from penalties.

Mbappe has also struggled to establish any real connection with his attacking partners such as Vinicius and Rodrygo. Although he has received support from teammates, his early struggles remain a point of concern for the fans.

Talking about Mbappe’s woes, Schuster said the forward must change his game, but so do Real Madrid as a whole.

“Sometimes people like him come in with a lot of quality. Normally it’s easier for them, but sometimes it’s a bit difficult. I think it’s a question of matches,” he said.

Can Mbappe find his groove? (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

“He knows what he has to do, it’s a question of time. The whole team has to change a bit, not just him,” he added.

A midfielder in his days, Schuster had played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid during his career. He had also briefly managed Real Madrid between 2007 and 2008.

Schuster on Kroos

Speaking of midfielders, Schuster also highlighted Real Madrid’s struggles following the retirement of Toni Kroos.

“In the team, right now there is no one there [in midfield]. Kroos was the last one. He has marked 10 years at Real Madrid with the way of playing. His solidity cannot be replaced,” Schuster said.

“There is no one there now and we have to find a formula for things to work the same way. There will not be another like him because he has marked an era and this cannot be changed in two months,” the German concluded.

After 10 years at Real Madrid, Kroos retired from football at the end of Euro 2024. He notably won the Champions League in his final game for Real Madrid.