Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti makes stark Kylian Mbappé admission before Real Madrid play Osasuna
Mbappé has scored one goal in his last six games, which include home defeats to Barcelona and AC Milan.
Real Madrid head into Saturday’s home LaLiga fixture against Osasuna on the back of two damaging defeats at the Santiago Bernabéu, where they have lost El Clásico to Barcelona (0-4) and in the Champions League to AC Milan (1-3) in successive games.
In his pre-match press conference ahead of the upcoming clash against Los Rojillos (kickoff at 8am ET on Saturday, November 9), manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted his team hadn’t been on top form of late but claimed he has identified where things are going wrong: “The problem has been detected, but we have to wait until tomorrow to see if we perform in the right manner.”
The Italian also spoke at length about star forward Kylian Mbappé, who has scored eight goals in 15 games for Los Blancos this season but only once in his last six appearances.
Kylian Mbappé left out of France squad for UEFA Nations League
The former Paris Saint-Germain star has made more headlines this week after being left out of the France squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures by national team coach Didier Deschamps. And Ancelotti confessed his big-named summer signing is feeling downbeat as a result of his recent struggles in front of goal.
“I haven’t spoken with Mbappé about it, nor do I plan to,” the Madrid boss said when asked about the attacker’s France omission. “It’s Deschamps’ decision, and I don’t have the right to judge it. I don’t allow myself that. We have to accept it, nothing more. Mbappé is feeling down, like everyone else, but motivated to push through.”
Ancelotti was also quizzed on whether a break and staying in Spain could be just what the Frenchman needs to rediscover his scoring touch.
Ancelotti: “Struggling” Mbappé “going through a difficult time”
“He’s training well, but going through a difficult time… just like all of us. And like everyone, he has to see this as an opportunity, that if he’s smart, he can get through it quickly. But it requires more motivation, focus, and attitude. That’s how problems should be faced.
“The struggle he’s experiencing is everyone’s: he’s not able to show the best version of himself. But he must get through this period and see it as a great opportunity to become better in the future. And I’m convinced he’ll come through it. Convinced. And just like him, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Bellingham… me!
It doesn’t however, appear as if we’ll see Mbappé switch positions with Vinicius, who has recently spoken of his willingness to play centrally, in an attempt to fix Madrid’s issues.
“I haven’t changed them because I don’t want to move a player (Vinicius) who has been a game changer into a new position. In addition, Mbappé has the characteristics to play as a central striker. There are moments during a game in which they change positions, but I don’t want to change them. Our problem is in defence, not in attack.