Mbappe and Vinicius: Kings of the Jungle but Need to Win Together
Steve McManaman believes Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior remain “kings of the jungle” as individual talents – but insists Real Madrid’s star duo still haven’t proved they can win together when it matters most.
Speaking to GOAL on behalf of ESPN on Disney+, with Jose Mourinho set for his first La Liga game back in charge when Real visit Espanyol on Saturday, the former Madrid midfielder painted a stark picture of the expectations around the Frenchman and the Brazilian.
The pieces don't fit together at the moment
Asked about Mbappe’s role alongside Vinicius and the pressure on the pair, McManaman did not question their quality, but their chemistry in the biggest moments.
“Off the scale,” he said of the scrutiny. “It's strange sort of, it's not a criticism, it's just the pieces don't fit together at the moment of Madrid, that's all it is.”
On their own, he argued, they are untouchable.
“Individually when they're suspended or one's injured or one's off the field, both of them [Mbappe and Vini Jr] are the kings of the jungle, they're the best players on the pitch, they're the ones who really stand out and look like incredible superstar players.”
The problem, in his eyes, starts when they share the stage.
“But when they're together, what has shown over the last couple of years is that they haven't won anything and if you follow Real Madrid, you follow La Liga, you know it’s either win or it's a disaster. When Barcelona are winning everything else and beating you in finals along the way, it is a disaster.”
Close calls aren’t enough at Real Madrid
McManaman pointed to the near-misses that have defined Madrid’s recent campaigns in the domestic cups and in Europe.
“They've come very close in Copa del Rey games, in the Super Cup, losing last-minute goals, missing chances but you have to get over the line,” he said. “And when it's Barcelona who have also strengthened, that's when it starts to get precarious and you know the fans let it be known on a number of occasions last year about the team - even though they finished second and went down fighting to a Bayern Munich team in the Champions League and I thought the performance against them was good.”
So for him, this is not a broken side. It is a nearly side.
“So they're not far away, but they just need a little bit of powder, a little bit of special magic and whether Jose brings that or whether the new signings bring it, we'll wait and see. We all hope it's going to be a magnificent year and I think it will be and I think there'll be fireworks and I think it'll be great as well with Rodri signing for Barcelona - that just chucks another superstar into the mix.”
Mourinho’s brief: “Finish Barcelona”
If Mbappe and Vinicius are under the microscope, Mourinho’s task is written in capital letters.
“But it doesn't matter, Jose's been brought in to finish Barcelona, to beat Barcelona and beat Barcelona again and again and again and that's all it is,” McManaman said. “Anybody can go into Real Madrid today, you could go in and finish second, I could go in and finish second, what they've been doing and letting the superstars run the show, but Jose's been brought in for a reason.”
That reason, he stressed, starts at the very top.
“Florentino [Perez] trusts him, he believes that he can get the best out of whoever it is, control the egos, whatever the dressing room says - I don't think it's as bad as it's being portrayed because there's always egos in that dressing room and they're all very professional, but it's up to Jose to get over the line. Simple as that, no more no less, he just has to win.”
The message is blunt: Mbappe and Vinicius can shine, Mourinho can marshal the egos, but at Real Madrid the equation never changes. Either you win – or it’s a disaster.
