The perfect night… with a tense ending

Kylian Mbappé was Real Madrid’s undisputed hero in Athens. The French superstar scored four goals against Olympiacos and single-handedly kept his team alive in a match that became far more complicated than expected.

But after the final whistle, the magic gave way to friction: in the mixed zone, Mbappé clashed with a reporter over a question that clearly struck a nerve.

The term “Mbappé-dependence” — a talking point amid Madrid’s inconsistency — lit the fuse.
“You shouldn’t say that. You should say that Kylian is responsible for us winning. I think that’s a bad question, with all due respect,” he replied, visibly annoyed.

Mbappé rejects the idea of ‘dependence’

The Frenchman tried to shut down the debate immediately. He explained that every player has a role and that his goals don’t diminish the work of the rest of the squad:

“My job is to score goals, but without the other players we don’t win games,” he said. “Every team has players who make a difference, but I don’t think there’s any kind of dependence. That’s something for journalists or people on the outside.”

His message was clear: he doesn’t want the narrative to revolve solely around him, nor to see Real Madrid reduced to a one-man team.

A four-goal masterpiece… with a dose of humility

Despite his historic performance, Mbappé kept his feet on the ground when asked about entering the club’s record books. With his poker, he joins the exclusive group of Madrid players who have scored four goals in a single Champions League match — a list full of legends.

But he refused to draw comparisons:
“It’s an honour, but I have to do a lot more before people compare me to those three,” he said, fully aware of the expectations that come with wearing white.

A Madrid that survives… because of him

Beyond the tense exchange with the press, one truth is impossible to ignore: Mbappé was the difference between victory and disaster in Athens. His performance keeps Real Madrid firmly in the fight — even if the uncomfortable question will keep looming over the season.

If this isn’t “Mbappé-dependence,” then what is?