After Anfield: Bale and Henry Deliver a Lethal Take on Mbappe and Vinicius

After Anfield: A blunt assessment of Madrid's attack

The post-match discussion on CBS Sports featured Gareth Bale and Thierry Henry offering blunt assessments of Real Madrid's attack after their 2-1 defeat at Anfield in the fourth matchday of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League group stage. Liverpool, under Arne Slot, took the win and Madrid left British soil with their first European loss of the season.

In the broadcast, Bale and Henry dissected the Madrid forwards' performance, pointing to a lack of spark from Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. Bale said, "The attacking spark simply wasn’t there. We didn’t see Mbappe or Vinicius conjure something magical in the final third to swing the game Madrid’s way. It’s frustrating not to see the usual quality from Real Madrid in that decisive area."

He added, "There’s a hesitation to go forward. Sometimes you just have to push the ball forward and test the defender. Mbappe and Vinicius are clearly faster than anyone else on the pitch, so they should be the ones answering those questions."

He proposed a possible reason for the drop in attacking output: "Perhaps there isn’t a ready-made target in the box for crosses. A true center-forward occupying the area would help, and that makes things a bit harder."

According to the report, Xabi Alonso left Gonzalo García and Endrick on the bench, suggesting they don’t fit exactly with his preferred style. Henry then joined the discussion, arguing that Madrid should have kept the pressure rather than easing off after the opening minutes.

"Even if there isn’t a man in the box, you should still push the opponent back 30 meters," Henry said. "Then you can feed a pass to a midfielder who might shoot from distance. I don’t understand why some players overcomplicate things when it’s unnecessary."

Henry also criticized Vinicius’s decision-making when space appeared. He noted how a rapid start against Conor Bradley had Vinicius under heavy pressure in the first few minutes, then the attack eased. Henry urged simpler distribution in space, arguing that some through-balls look too scripted rather than instinctive.

Vinicius, Vinicius, and the human side of the game

Henry revisited Vinicius’s recent Clasico incident, defending the Brazilian and emphasizing his humanity. He recalled his own moments of losing control and suggested that Vinicius’s emotion should be understood in a sport that fans crave passion—provided it stays within lines. Henry stressed that Vinicius apologized, and that this episode should not derail his season.

"We’ve all lost our temper at times; it’s human. It’s not an excuse, but it’s a reality," Henry said. "The fans want emotion, but when it becomes excessive, it crosses the line. He showed courage by apologizing, and I don’t expect this to derail him for the year."

Bale wrapped up with the broader challenge facing Real Madrid’s leadership: coaching a star-laden squad requires more than tactical scheming. He suggested that the biggest hurdle for Xabi Alonso will be managing egos and minutes inside the locker room, not simply juggling formations, given the high-profile personalities involved. He expressed faith in Alonso’s ability to steer the club through this delicate balance, drawing on his own experience as a former Madrid player.

Henry circled back to Vinicius, urging patience and disciplined decision-making in the final third rather than overthinking. He highlighted the importance of controlling emotions and translating intensity into productive actions, noting that the season’s success hinges on how quickly Madrid can align star talent with consistent team output.

In their closing thoughts, Bale and Henry underscored that Madrid’s challenge extends beyond lineup choices: it’s about leading a team of champions with unity and clear purpose. As Bale hinted, the road to glory will demand leadership that can harmonize star power with a shared, practical plan.

Punchline 1: If the front three were a software update, they’d still be buffering while the rest of the team streams in HD.

Punchline 2: If football had a GPS, Mbappe and Vinicius would argue about the route while the cross comes in from the other side — recalculating, again and again.