Kylian Mbappe\'s Move Creates Unexpected Madrid Decline, PSG Rise
Real Madrid\'s acquisition of Kylian Mbappé, widely considered the world\'s best player, has paradoxically made the defending Champions League winners worse offensively this season while his former club Paris Saint-Germain has improved without him.
Statistical analysis reveals Madrid\'s attack has declined from 1.88 adjusted goals per 90 minutes last season to just 1.69 in the current campaign despite adding Mbappé. Meanwhile, PSG\'s offensive output has surged from 1.94 to 2.56 adjusted goals per 90 minutes.
The defensive numbers tell a similar story. Madrid has regressed from 0.84 adjusted goals allowed per 90 minutes to 0.94, while PSG has improved from 1.02 to 0.86, demonstrating better defensive structure without Mbappé.
Heat maps illustrate a key tactical problem: Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior essentially occupy the same left-sided spaces, creating positional redundancy. Neither player, nor teammate Rodrygo, consistently occupies central attacking areas, limiting Madrid\'s offensive effectiveness.
The retirement of Toni Kroos has further complicated matters, leaving Madrid without their primary ball progressor and distributor who could have potentially organized this collection of attacking talent into a more cohesive unit.
PSG manager Luis Enrique has been blunt about his team\'s improvement: \"The numbers speak for themselves. I still think we\'re better in attack and defense without Mbappé.\" Under his tactical system, PSG is pressing more aggressively, winning the ball higher, and creating more diverse attacking patterns.
Without Mbappé, PSG\'s attack has become more fluid and unpredictable. Their pressing effectiveness also allows fullbacks Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi to contribute more offensively, creating a more balanced team structure.
Despite these team struggles, Mbappé remains individually productive at Madrid. According to Michael Imburgio\'s DAVIES model, Mbappé is adding 10.57 goals compared to the average player at his position—the highest figure in Europe\'s top five leagues—and he leads Madrid in goals, expected goals, and expected assists.
The situation mirrors what Bill Simmons once dubbed the \"Ewing Theory,\" where teams sometimes inexplicably perform better after losing a star player. This doesn\'t necessarily mean Mbappé is overrated, but rather that his specific playing style requires particular team structures to maximize his effectiveness.
With Madrid struggling and PSG thriving, the current season suggests Mbappé may be \"a really hard player to fit into an elite team\" despite his undeniable individual brilliance, as his reluctance to press and positional preferences limit tactical flexibility.
\"I think the mistake new generation coaches make is that they give too much information about the system on the ball,\" Ancelotti said earlier this season. \"I think old school coaches like me prefer not to give too much information and allow freedom for creativity.\"