‘I’m dead’ – Exhausted Real Madrid star caught speaking to his teammate after Villarreal win
Kylian Mbappe played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Villarreal at the Estadi de la Ceramica, a venue where the Spanish giants had not managed to secure a win since 2017.
The French forward delivered an outstanding performance, scoring both goals for his team, taking his tally to 31 goals in 44 appearances this season. However, the match was not an easy one for Mbappe or his teammates.
The demanding fixture schedule took a visible toll on the players, particularly after their exhausting Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, which went into extra time.
Having played two high-intensity matches in less than 72 hours, Real Madrid’s squad was physically drained by the time they faced Villarreal.
Mbappe was tired
As the final whistle blew, cameras captured the moment Mbappe left the pitch completely exhausted. “I’m dead,” the forward was captured saying.
"Estoy muerto…".
— Fútbol en Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarFutbol) March 16, 2025
El Real Madrid acabó exhausto en La Cerámica.#DeportePluspic.twitter.com/IcxVMNYTDO
The sheer physical effort required to secure the win was evident, and the Frenchman’s body language showed just how much energy he had expended.
The challenge of playing back-to-back games with minimal recovery time had pushed Real Madrid to their limits. “it was very difficult but what a game,” he added.
The impact of the congested schedule was not just visible in their performance but also in the growing frustration among the players.
Real Madrid had already made it clear that they would no longer play matches without at least 72 hours of rest between fixtures.
Before kick-off, just 66 hours after their intense encounter with Atletico Madrid, the squad was heard expressing their frustration over the lack of recovery time.
The players knew they would have to dig deep to overcome Villarreal, and that is exactly what they did.
Despite the fatigue, Real Madrid showed remarkable determination, fighting until the end to secure a victory that had eluded them for years at this stadium.
Mbappe’s heroics once again proved decisive, but the match also highlighted the immense physical demands placed on elite footballers, particularly when forced to play under such challenging conditions.
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