Kylian Mbappe said there is “no limit” to the number of goals he and Real Madrid can score this season, after scoring on his debut as the club lifted the UEFA Super Cup with a 2-0 win over Atalanta.
After a tight first half in Warsaw, Poland, Federico Valverde opened the scoring in the 59th minute, converting a Vinícius Júnior cross, before Mbappé scored his first goal for Madrid nine minutes later with a clever attacking move involving Rodrygo, Vinícius and Jude Bellingham.
“We are at Real Madrid, we have no limits, I have no limits,” Mbappé told Movistar after Wednesday's match when asked if 50 goals was a realistic target for him this season. “If I can score 50 goals, it's 50. But the most important thing is to win and improve as a team, because we are going to win as a team.”
Mbappé joined Madrid on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, signing a five-year contract and ending a long and contentious transfer saga.
The France international started the Super Cup game, which pitted last season's Champions League winners Madrid against Europa League winners Atalanta of Italy, playing as a central striker, just a week after joining up with his new team-mates for pre-season training.
“It's a great night,” said Mbappé. “I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, to be able to play with this shirt, with this badge, for these fans. It's a great moment for me.”
“Winning a trophy is very important, we know that. [at Madrid] “We always have to win. I am very happy, certainly with the goal, for a striker like me, which is decisive in my first match, but the most important thing is that it is a pleasure to play.”
Madrid lined up Brazilians Vinícius and Rodrygo either side of Mbappé, with Bellingham behind him, in an attacking team chosen by coach Carlo Ancelotti.
“They are two great players,” said Mbappé, when asked about Vinícius and Bellingham, who combined to create his goal. “But here we have the best in every position. I'm happy to play with the whole squad we have; we will improve for sure, me first, but today is a positive step.”
“They deserve it,” said midfielder Valverde, when asked about the attacking team. “Hopefully we can enjoy many more games like today. They can enjoy themselves and play well, and we, the defenders, will run after them!”
Bellingham was named MVP of the match and described Mbappe as “incredible” when speaking to the media after the game.
“I thought [Mbappé] “He was amazing before,” Bellingham said. “Now I get to play with him and see the details a little bit more closely: the speed, the quality, the work off the ball, the way he is as a leader, the way he communicates.
“I can't praise him enough. People have been talking about his arrival for a long time and it seems like he's been here for quite some time now. He's adapted perfectly.”
Ancelotti admitted it took his new teammates time to adapt during a slow start to the match, but after that he said his team found the balance they were looking for.
“[Mbappé] “He has the quality to score a lot of goals,” said Ancelotti. “We have to find balance as a team. We had that today. In the first half, our level of play was not spectacular, but the team played well at the back.
“We suffered a bit in the first half because Atalanta press a lot, they are very good defensively. In the first half they won more duels than us. In the second half we had more space up front. And obviously in the spaces, Rodrygo, Vinícius and Mbappé are very dangerous.”
Madrid begins the defence of its league title in Mallorca on Sunday.
