Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has defended Kylian Mbappé amid criticism over his recent performances, suggesting that the French forward’s difficulties are part of a wider issue at the club.
Mbappé, who joined Madrid in the summer after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain ended, has netted only two goals in his last nine appearances for the team, leading to mounting scrutiny.
Ancelotti addressed the situation following Real Madrid’s 3-2 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday, a game in which Mbappé missed a penalty. The defeat marked Madrid’s third loss in five European matches, fueling further concerns about the team’s form.
“The problem Mbappé faces is the same problem we all have,” Ancelotti said in a press conference ahead of Madrid’s La Liga clash with Getafe.
“The aim is to give our best, not just for him but for me and all the players. It’s not a problem of one player. We are a team that has struggled with consistency.”
Ancelotti acknowledged that while Mbappé is still adapting to life at Madrid, the forward has contributed eight goals and several assists this season. “Yes, he can improve, but we can all do better. We’ll keep working on that,” he added.
Mbappé’s integration into the squad has not been without challenges. He has missed recent France squad calls and faced personal off-field issues since arriving at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Despite the scrutiny, Ancelotti assured that Mbappé is not “sunken,” and understands the need to improve just like the rest of the team.
“We’re all under pressure to improve,” Ancelotti explained. “Mbappé has been criticized after missing the penalty, but that’s part of being a footballer. Many of my players have been in the same position.”
Real Madrid has also been hampered by injuries to key players like Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal, and Eder Militao, which Ancelotti believes affected their performance against Liverpool.
However, he confirmed that Brazilian winger Rodrygo would be available for the Getafe match.
Currently sitting second in La Liga, Madrid trails leaders Barcelona by four points but has one game in hand. Ancelotti expressed his own frustrations with the team’s results but remained confident in their ability to turn things around.
“I’m like Mbappé; I’m trying to give my best version,” Ancelotti said. “The results say that I haven’t been able to do that, but I’m convinced we will fix it, like we always do.”
