Kylian Mbappe has come to the defence of teammate Jude Bellingham following criticism from Real Madrid supporters who blamed the England midfielder for Xabi Alonso's departure from the club.
The Bernabeu faithful directed their frustration at both Bellingham and Vinicius Junior during Real's 2-0 LaLiga triumph against Levante.
The French forward called on fans to refrain from targeting specific individuals within the squad.
Mbappe offered strong backing for his English colleague, insisting that any dissatisfaction should be aimed at the team collectively rather than singling out particular players for blame after the club's recent difficulties.
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The supporter unrest followed Alonso's dismissal from the managerial position after Real suffered defeat against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup.
The club's troubles were compounded by an unexpected Copa del Rey elimination at the hands of Almeria, further fuelling discontent among the fanbase.
Such was the depth of frustration at the Bernabeu that some supporters went beyond criticising players and coaching staff, with calls emerging for club president Florentino Perez to step down from his position.
Kylian Mbappe has come to the defence of teammate Jude Bellingham following criticism from Real Madrid supporters who blamed the England midfielder for Xabi Alonso's departure from the club
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The demonstrations represented a significant expression of unhappiness from a fanbase accustomed to success, reflecting the mounting pressure on all those associated with the Spanish giants.
Speaking about his teammate, Mbappe declared: "No one doubts Jude Bellingham's quality. He has so much potential."
The 2018 World Cup winner went further in his praise of the 22-year-old, adding: "When he's fit, he's one of the best in the world."
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La Liga's top scorers from the last five seasons | PAMbappe also acknowledged the difficult circumstances facing the squad whilst accepting responsibility for turning things around.
"It's tough, for everyone. We can accept that the fans aren't happy," he stated.
The striker emphasised that the onus was on the players to remedy the situation, pointing to their league victory and the upcoming Champions League fixtures as opportunities to rebuild confidence.
Mbappe expressed sympathy for the supporters' position whilst making clear his displeasure at how criticism had been directed.
"I understand the fans, but the only thing I haven't liked is that if they whistle, they should whistle the whole squad," he said.
Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe are two of Real Madrid's best players
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"They shouldn't single out one player. It's the fault of the whole team."
He remained optimistic about winning back the supporters, stating: "Madrid fans aren't against us, they're angry, that's normal."
Real are next in action against Monaco tonight (8pm).
They sit seventh in the Champions League standings, having won four of their six games so far.