Kylian Mbappe is yet to find the net for Real Madrid since his blockbuster move from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer and Carlo Ancelotti has now attempted to explain the Frenchman’s form
Carlo Ancelotti has shared his view on Kylian Mbappe’s form (Image: Getty Images)
Carlo Ancelotti is confident that Kylian Mbappe will eventually find his scoring boots whatever position he plays in.
The Frenchman completed a blockbuster move to the Bernabeu this summer after leaving PSG at the end of his contract. The move brought to an end a long saga, with the Spanish giants courting Mbappe over recent years.
Despite arriving in Madrid to plenty of fanfare, Mbappe has not quite managed to match expectations quite yet. He scored on his debut as Real won the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta but Mbappe is yet to open his La Liga goalscoring account.
That has led to concerns that he is playing in the wrong position, having been stationed centrally. But Real boss Ancelotti does not believe that is the case and fully expects Mbappe to be as prolific as usual this season
“No, I don’t think so at all,” Ancelotti said after Sunday’s 3-0 win against Valladolid. “[Mbappé] is a spectacular forward, he’s very fast, he moves well without the ball.
“He had three chances. I think in that position he’ll score, as he’s always scored. I don’t think he has to play on the left or the right. He’ll score goals.”
Despite still awaiting his first league goal, Mbappe does not appear to be too downbeat and instead was keen to focus on the fact he had finally made his home debut. Speaking to Real Madrid ’s official TV channel, the forward said: “It makes me very happy. I’ve started off at the Bernabéu winning the game and we got the three points.
Kylian Mbappe has yet to score his first La Liga goal ( Image: Getty Images)
“It was a great night. The fans were top. We wanted to win the first game [here]. It’s a dream playing in this stadium, but we have another game on Thursday and we want to win again.”
Mbappe will have another chance to open his La Liga account midweek as Real Madrid travel to Las Palmas. It remains to be seen whether Ancelotti chooses to play him centrally or moves him to a more natural position on the left flank.
Mbappe, during his time with PSG, revealed he was happy playing anywhere across the frontline but was more comfortable with former teammate Lionel Messi leading the line. He said: “It’s better when Leo [Messi] is in the middle? Yes, but I’m not the coach.
“Leo is a player who needs to be on the ball, to feel the game and the match to be involved. I think it’s a good position for him, he’s free, he can move around and take off.
“Me, I can play everywhere. I started in the middle, then on the right and now on the left but I still have a certain freedom in my movements.”