Ancelotti: “Speculating on Mbappé’s mental health is a bad thing”

Carlo Ancelotti appeared before the media after Saturday’s training session to look ahead to Real Madrid’s league match against Leganés at Butarque.

A press conference that revolved mainly around Kylian Mbappé, his struggles in front of goal and whether that is creating more anxiety for him. The Italian passionately defended his player.

The Leganés game: “The team is doing well, they’re back in good shape, without any problems. Those who have been here have worked well. We have to confirm the good feelings from the last game. We want to start well. Hopefully we’ll have a good game.”

Valverde at full-back and Raúl Asencio in the starting line-up: “It’s an option. There are others that we’ve tried during this break. I’ll try to choose the best option possible.”

Youth squad: “It’s not difficult, it’s easy to choose. My responsibility is to put out the best team possible. That’s what I’ve done in every game. The youth squad is an important part of this club. I don’t want to doubt the club’s planning, which I think is very good, it’s a very important part. Many have been there, are there and will be there. Giving them minutes is not the club’s objective. Looking after the youth squad is important, many players have come out of it. We look at many players, they could be ready for Madrid’s first team one day.”

Mbappé: “He has been able to train well, his condition has improved. I hope he can show all his qualities, of which he has many.”

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Asencio: “Very good, he had a very good debut, he is ready and very excited and motivated. I see him doing very well.”

Vinicius and Mbappé in attack: “Kylian has never asked me for a position on the pitch. They all want to be in the starting eleven, they don’t have a fixed position and can be changed depending on the match situation.”

Playing only with youth players if necessary: “No, the idea is very clear: to put out the best team in each game. I will do that tomorrow and on Wednesday. We don’t change depending on the competition.”

Mbappé and mental health: “To me he seems happy, calm, content... I don’t think he has any mental problems. I think it’s a bad thing to speculate about that.”

The young players stepping up: “Some are taking on more responsibility. It is a process, it takes time, in this sense we have lost the most important piece, Carvajal. But the responsibility of the youngsters takes time, they are aware of it. They will try to progress as quickly as they can.”

Mbappé‘s spirits: “Bad streaks pass eventually - they happen to all great strikers. I see him motivated, happy to be with his teammates. The run will come to an end, sooner or later. He will play a great game, for sure. His quality is tremendous.”

Brahim: “He’s back from injury and he’s returned in very good shape. He’s scored goals, he’s in extraordinary condition. He’ll be important for us, he can play out wide, he helps the midfield... He’s very important for us, like last year. I think he’ll play even more prominently.”

Specific work with Mbappé: “He has worked with the others, we have focused on defence, with Raúl Asencio, Mendy, trying out right-backs... I am not going to teach him to play as a striker, he can teach me. Does Mbappé need to do defensive work? I don’t think so.”

Signing: “We will wait for the match against Sevilla, the last of the nine remaining this year, to analyse the market.”