Champions League: Real Madrid’s Mbappé, Bellingham warn rivals

Kylian Mbappé said he believes he “can do more” despite scoring five goals in seven games since joining Real Madrid this summer, while teammate Jude Bellingham added he thinks the reigning LaLiga champions “can improve.”

Madrid started their Champions League title defence with a hard-fought 3-1 home win over Stuttgart on Tuesday.

Stuttgart looked the better side before Mbappé broke the deadlock early in the second half, scoring for a third straight game for Madrid.

“I can do more,” Mbappé said.

Mbappé, who signed a five-year contract with the Spanish giants this summer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, had also scored in his team’s 2-0 win away at Real Sociedad on Saturday.

The France captain has found the back of the net three times in five league games.

“I know I’m going to do more,” Mbappé said. “Every game I feel better and now I’m scoring goals. I’m happy here.”

Mbappé also celebrated Endrick scoring in his Champions League debut.

“He scored his goal and got away from the players” Mbappé said of the Brazil forward. “He’s very young. He’s 18. He gets his playing time and he scores his goals.”

Bellingham, meanwhile, admitted that there is room for improvement.

Madrid conceded a 68th minute equaliser and had earlier relied on a string of saves from Thibaut Courtois before late goals from Antonio Rüdiger and Endrick sealed the win.

“Courtois is the best in the world and he makes amazing saves,” the England midfielder said. “However, we have to try to make sure he walks away with a clean sheet.

“There are still things we can improve. I think we need some time for all of us to get back to our best. Once we click it’ll be great. We play great at times now as well. We just need to be more consistent.”

Asked about his rapport with Madrid’s attacking trio Vinícius Júnior, Mbappé and Rodrygo, Bellingham said: “I read a lot on social media that Rodrygo is missing or that I’m missing in the four. They try to create a negative situation. Kylian has arrived, I have a great relationship with Rodrygo and the feeling we have is that we’ve been together for a long time.

“We’re all good friends off the pitch and we enjoy playing. Today [Tuesday] we exemplified that on the pitch.”

Madrid are third in LaLiga, four points adrift of leaders Barcelona after five games, and host Espanyol on Saturday.