Kylian Mbappe visits his own Ligue 2 club to calm angry fans

Kylian Mbappe acknowledged the frustrations of fans as he arrived to connect with supporters and players at his underperforming Ligue 2 club, SM Caen. 

Mbappe’s entrance in Caen on Thursday came less than a day after his remarkable hat-trick propelled Real Madrid past Manchester City in the Champions League.

Real Madrid's star player may have anticipated a warmer reception in Caen, especially considering the club's current atrocities as they face the possibility of relegation to the third tier for the first time in 41 years. Caen, once a strong competitor in Ligue 1, is currently at the bottom of the table and finds itself 11 points adrift from safety. 

Recently, the club's fans displayed a banner expressing their concerns, emphasizing that SMC should not be treated lightly following the dismissal of club legend Nicolas Seube as manager.

Last month, the club fans took to the pitch to engage directly with players and staff following a devastating defeat. 

Kylian Mbappe came in to calm down the proceedings 

In a bid to revitalize the team, Kylian Mbappe joined after the decision to part ways with his second manager, Bruno Baltazar, on Tuesday. Michel Der Zakarian has since been appointed as the new manager. The 26-year-old expressed his commitment to supporting the team and remains optimistic about their ability to turn their fortunes around.

Mbappe emphasized the importance of his presence, stating that he needed to show his support. He wanted everyone to feel his commitment and to understand that they could rely on him, especially given the difficult situation the team was in.

He expressed his belief in the project, declaring his desire to arrive earlier, although circumstances made it impossible. He conveyed a message to the team that they needed to have faith and believe in themselves. Mbappe recognized that the current lot of players refused to accept defeat and were committed to turning the results around.

"It's important for me to be here. I want to show my support, to be in contact with everyone and for them to know that they count on me, and especially in the situation we're in," Mbappe said.

"If I'm here it's because I believe in the project. I wanted to have come earlier but it was impossible. I told them that I was with them and that they had to believe. And I saw a group that is not resigned and wants to change the results." Mbappe added.

"I think that with the quality of the team and the support of the fans, things can change and I hope that this is a turning point. In football, we have seen that nothing is impossible."

Caen is an iconic club that boasts average attendance of 15,000 supporters at the Stade Michel-d'Ornano.

Throughout its history, the club has been home to several notable players, including N'Golo Kante, William Gallas, and Thomas Lemar. The club nearly secured a deal to sign Kylian Mbappé when he was just 13.