Luka Modric gives verdict on Kylian Mbappe's missed penalty in Real Madrid's UCL loss against Liverpool

The Reds hadn’t beaten Los Blancos since 2009 until today.

Although he acknowledges that Kylian Mbappe’s missed penalty for Real Madrid was a major factor in the team’s loss to Liverpool, Luka Modric believes Mbappe will succeed.

Modric led Los Blancos on their Champions League trip to Anfield on Wednesday night, but the Croatian will want to forget the encounter as soon as possible.

The midfielder acknowledges that it was a huge chance in the game. Mbappe’s crucial penalty miss at a 1-0 deficit proved costly. Nevertheless, he is confident that the France international will eventually step up and produce in crucial moments.

Speaking after the game, Modric said: “We had the penalty that could have changed the game and we didn’t take advantage of it and with the score at 2-0 we were almost lost.”

The 39-year-old added: “We see him [Mbappe] doing well, training well and with confidence. Sometimes things work out and sometimes they don’t, especially with the penalty. We have confidence in him and we’re sure he’ll do very well.”

Madrid will want more from their summer acquisition if they hope to keep their European title. Kylian Mbappe has only scored one goal in his last four Champions League appearances, which is much below his typical level of play.

He can play on a large platform, but he needs to accept the fact that he is not the star of his new team. The player has yet to figure out how to fit in under Carlo Ancelotti be it as a winger or a striker.

Mbappe has an excellent chance to regroup as he will now operate from the left wing, where he can finally start showing his attributes and become a key player that will also help him find his form.

According to the Champions League standings, the Spanish powerhouses are in the final place of the play-off spots. They must begin winning games with three games remaining if they are to be ready for a spot in the European elite competition’s knockout stages. They meet Atalanta, RB Salzburg and Brest in their upcoming fixtures.

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