Real Madrid superstar confirms he’s ready to play for national team after ankle issue – ‘There won’t be a problem’ | OneFootball

Ahead of France’s upcoming fixture against Azerbaijan, Kylian Mbappe addressed the media as captain of the national team, offering updates on his fitness, form, and mindset.

The Real Madrid superstar, who has been managing a minor ankle issue since Monday, assured fans and reporters that he feels ready to play.

Despite missing full training sessions earlier in the week, Mbappe confirmed that his injury is “nothing serious”, and praised Real Madrid for their understanding in allowing him to join the French squad.

“I want to play. And the coach wants me to play, so I think there won’t be any big problem. I feel like I’m in good shape. The coach and I talk a lot.

“I haven’t trained yet, I’ll train today. This will be the final test. I’m not worried, I want to play and continue on this path towards qualifying for the World Cup,” he began saying.

Mbappe had been substituted in the 82nd minute of Real Madrid’s match against Villarreal after feeling discomfort in his right ankle.

His call-up by Didier Deschamps initially raised eyebrows, but the forward has since returned to partial training with the France squad.

A rejuvenated Mbappe

After his debut season in Madrid, where he finished as the club’s top scorer but appeared slightly reserved, Mbappe now feels like he has found his natural rhythm again.

“It’s a new season, and I was able to prepare well. I started the season strongly, but this is just the beginning. We started well despite the tough match against Atletico.

Mbappe is expeced to feature for the national team. (Photo by Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images)

“With the national team, we were quite serious. I scored goals, but I’m also in good shape in terms of performance. I’m working to be better,” he said.

Mbappe is also closing in on Olivier Giroud’s record as France’s all-time top scorer. Giroud leads with 57 goals, while Mbappe currently has 52.

When asked about the milestone, he replied, “No. I’m not setting myself a limit to equal it. I want to equal it. Maybe tomorrow, who knows?

“As I said, the most important thing is to qualify for the World Cup. After that, it will come naturally. It’s something that will happen.

“I’ll be happy when it happens. And I’ll move on to other things that need to be done.”

Mbappe closed the press conference by reflecting on his adjustment to life in Spain and how it has influenced his performances.

“On the pitch, you can have difficult years where you don’t settle in. In life, I’ve settled in Madrid. I’m more relaxed. It’s a different place from Paris.

“It’s part of a player’s development. I managed to get back to my best. As I said, we’re only at the start of the season and there’s still a lot to prove,” he noted.

Source: AS