pwshub.com

Ancelotti insists Mbappe does NOT need to play on the left

Carlo Ancelotti is adamant that Kylian Mbappe will find his feet leading the line at Real Madrid after the forward failed to find the net against Real Valladolid.

The 25-year-old made the mega switch to the Spanish capital this summer upon the conclusion of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain.

While at PSG, Mbappe was stationed predominantly on the left wing and became one of football's most prolific players.

However, since arriving in Spain, the superstar forward has started as a striker in all three of his appearances for Los Blancos and is yet to score a goal in La Liga.

Despite his early struggles, Ancelotti is not worried. '[Mbappe] is a spectacular striker,' said the Real Madrid boss following a 3-0 over Valladolid. 'He's very fast, he moves well without the ball.

Kylian Mbappe has made two La Liga starts for Real Madrid but is yet to score a league goal

'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.'

The left-hand side of Madrid's attack is currently occupied by Vinicius Jr who has enjoyed much success there in recent seasons.

It means Mbappe will continue to be deployed down the middle, where he found joy in his Madrid debut, scoring in their UEFA Super Cup triumph over Atalanta.

But his two La Liga performances have left a lot to be desired with criticism coming his way for his lack of goals in the first two matches.

The French star was replaced by fellow summer signing Endrick in the pairs Bernabeu bow, with the youngster netting his first goal for the club in stoppage time.

Despite his early struggles, Mbappe remains in high spirits about his start to life in the Spanish capital.

'It makes me very happy,' Mbappe told Real Madrid's official TV channel. 'I've started off at the Bernabéu winning the game and we got the three points.

'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.'

The Frenchman doesn't have to wait long until he has another chance to score his first league goal, as Madrid travel to Las Palmas on Thursday evening.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Related stories
1 month ago - AADAM PATEL: Last week, Carlo Ancelotti admitted that Real Madrid are considering giving players holidays during the season to cope with fixture congestion.
1 month ago - INTERVIEW BY KIERAN GILL IN ATLANTA: Maresca says he is his own man in spite of the 'Diet Pep' nickname. Yet that does not mean he is not inspired by Man City's manager.
1 month ago - KIERAN GILL IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA: Ancelotti says 'nothing will change' for Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid in spite of Kylian Mbappe's arrival.
3 weeks ago - Mbappe, 25, joined the LaLiga and Champions League winners as a free agent from Paris St Germain in June, bringing an end to a transfer saga that had rumbled on for years.
1 month ago - Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti (inset) has claimed there has been no falling out between Antonio Rudiger and Endrick after footage emerged showing the pair locked in a training pitch drill.
Other stories
16 minutes ago - JOE BERNSTEIN AT THE GEWISS STADIUM: Mikel Arteta's side had to call on David Raya to pull off a fine double save from Mateo Retegui as they were forced to defend for large periods.
16 minutes ago - Barcelona defender Eric Garcia was eventually sent off in Thursday's Champions League opener against AS Monaco after the referee got his cards muddled up.  
16 minutes ago - Both players have become undroppable under Mikel Arteta and been credited as a major force behind the Gunners' recent Premier League title challenges.
16 minutes ago - David Raya produced two moments of brilliance to stop Arsenal going behind in their Champions League opener against Atalanta on Thursday night.
16 minutes ago - ISAAN KHAN AT THE GEWISS STADIUM: How David Raya denied Mateo Retegui not once, but twice, only he knows.