​Former Real Madrid midfielder Claude Makelele has shared his views on several of the club’s biggest talking points in a wide-ranging interview with DAZN. In it, he praised Aurélien Tchouaméni’s performances, defended Kylian Mbappé from criticism, and identified the type of midfielder he believes Real Madrid still lacks to complete their balance in the middle of the park.
On Real Madrid’s recent campaign, Makelele highlighted Tchouaméni as the team’s most dependable performer from start to finish and defended the decision to extend the French youngster’s contract. “Tchouaméni was the only consistent player from beginning to end,” he said, underscoring the midfielder’s pivotal role in steadying Madrid’s engine room and his ability to influence games across the season. Makelele’s verdict reinforces the notion that Tchouaméni’s development profile fits the club’s long-term plans and that locking him into a longer-term deal was a prudent move amid a period of transition.
Beyond individual praise, Makelele expressed optimism about José Mourinho’s anticipated return to the Santiago Bernabéu, while also injecting realism about what it would take for the Portuguese coach to win domestic silverware. He argued that Mourinho is not only a highly capable coach but also one who understands that top-tier teams require a robust squad to compete for La Liga. “Mourinho isn’t stupid, he’s a good coach, one of the best coaches. He knows he’s going to need a strong team to win La Liga,” Makelele remarked, implying that success at Real Madrid under Mourinho would depend on assembling a squad capable of sustaining both the intensity and the depth required to contend on multiple fronts.
Makelele also came to Mbappé’s defense amid ongoing criticism, insisting that the Paris Saint-Germain and French captain has been unfairly targeted. He framed Mbappé’s psychology as intrinsic to his role as a striker: “A lot of people are criticizing Mbappé. He’s for the team, but he’s a striker. A striker always wants to score.” The former Madrid talisman reminded observers that the striker’s mindset naturally gravitates toward goals, even when tactical demands occasionally pull a forward into deeper, more building phases of play. In Makelele’s view, Mbappé’s desire to contribute to buildup should not overshadow his primary objective—finding the back of the net.
Central to Makelele’s critique is Real Madrid’s alleged missing piece in midfield. He argued that Los Blancos lack a ball-carrier who can break lines and accelerate attacks, a player who can effectively transition possession through the center and feed the attackers with rapid, decisive passes. “At Real Madrid, there isn’t that type of midfielder who carries the ball and breaks lines. They need a player like that, who can deliver quick passes to the attackers, to himself, to Vinícius Júnior, and to the players up front,” Makelele stated. The implication is that the team’s current construct relies too heavily on positional play and build-up from deeper lines, without a dynamic midfielder capable of driving plays forward with penetrating carries and swift distribution.
Makelele extended his assessment by noting that Mbappé’s positioning has sometimes pulled him away from the penalty area. According to his observations, Mbappé has occasionally drifted too deep in search of possession, which can diminish his threat in goal-scoring zones. “Mbappé often comes to collect the ball in midfield, and who’s going to be up front? When he’s up front, he’s scoring,” he explained. This critique underscores the delicate balance coaches must strike between screening for space, exploiting half-spaces, and allowing a prolific striker to stay high and prioritize finishing opportunities rather than acting as the primary distributor.
In essence, Makelele’s comments center on three core themes: the steady influence of Tchouaméni as a pillar of Madrid’s midfield, the need for a true ball-carrier who can stitch attacks together from the center, and the nuanced understanding of Mbappé’s role as a striker who sometimes veers into deeper channels in pursuit of the ball. He also stresses that even the finest coaches—the kind that have defined football’s upper echelons—must contend with the realities of squad depth and tactical coherence if they are to deliver domestic championships and European glory. His assessment invites Real Madrid to re-evaluate their midfield archetype and to consider how best to harness Mbappé’s scoring instincts while preserving the structural integrity of the team as they pursue years of sustained success.