Ancelotti: Mbappe ‘Down but Motivated’ at Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has stated that striker Kylian Mbappe is “down” but possesses the resolve to overcome a challenging phase. The 25-year-old France international forward, who transferred to Real from Paris St-Germain in July on a free deal, has experienced a dip in performance since his arrival at the Bernabeu. Mbappe has registered eight goals across 15 appearances for the La Liga team, yet he has found the net only once in his last five matches. Real, the reigning champions of the Champions League and La Liga from the previous season, suffered a 4-0 defeat against rivals Barcelona last month and currently lag nine points behind the Catalans in the league standings. During a news conference, Real’s coach Ancelotti remarked, “Mbappe is down like everyone else, but motivated to get through this moment.” He further elaborated, “The problem he’s having is everyone’s problem. You could point at Vinicius [Junior], Rodrygo or [Jude] Bellingham. It is a difficult moment for everyone.” Ancelotti indicated that Mbappe was “training well” and expressed his conviction that the player’s form would improve if he maintained a positive outlook. Ancelotti added, “We haven’t hit our stride yet. You can’t let your head drop, you have to hold it high.” The Italian coach also mentioned that he had “not spoken” with Mbappe regarding France manager Didier Deschamps’ choice to omit him from Les Bleus’ upcoming Nations League double-header. Ancelotti clarified, “It’s a matter for the national team coach and I have no right to judge his decisions. He made the decision and we have to accept it.” Real is scheduled to host Osasuna in a La Liga fixture on Saturday at 13:00 GMT. Carlo Ancelotti is currently serving his second tenure as the manager of Real Madrid.