PA Media/dpa
London
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has called questions about striker Kylian Mbappe’s mental health “ugly” as he backed the France star to get back on the score sheet soon.
Mbappe has scored eight goals in 16 appearances since joining this summer - but only one in his last seven - and Didier Deschamps’ decision to leave him out of his France squad again this month brought fresh questions over how well he has settled in the Spanish capital.
But when asked about Mbappe’s mental health at a press conference to preview Sunday’s trip to Leganes, Ancelotti responded: “What a question ... I don’t think so, he seems happy and content to be here.
Speculating on this seems too ugly to me.” Ancelotti added: “All strikers have had a bad run. When strikers have a bad time, they get a bit frustrated, as is the case with Mbappe. I see him motivated and happy to train and be with his team-mates.
“I only see that, the run will stop sooner or later. He is doing very well and is convinced that he will have a great game tomorrow. This streak without scoring will end. It is just a matter of time, he has tremendous quality and he will show it.” One issue for Mbappe has been finding his own role in Ancelotti’s attack. Both he and Vinicius Jr like to start on the left of a front three, but Ancelotti played down the issue.
“He has never asked me for any position on the field,” Ancelotti said. “He and Vini Jr do not have a fixed position in the team and can be changed depending on the situation of the game.” After Sunday’s league encounter, Madrid head to Liverpool in the Champions League.
“A cycle of very important matches is starting for us and we want to start well,” Anceloti said. “The idea is very clear: to put out the best team in each game. I will do that tomorrow and also on Wednesday. We are not considering changing depending on the competition.” Ancelotti added that there were no fresh injury issues within the camp as players return to Madrid after international duty.
“The team is doing well,” he said. “Those who have played with their national teams have returned in good form and without problems. Those who have been here have worked well. We have to confirm the good feelings from the last match.”
One of those who has been away is Brahim Diaz, who scored five goals in two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers for Morocco against Gabon and Lesotho.
There has been speculation over the 25-year-old’s future, but Ancelotti stressed his importance to Madrid.
“He has come back from injury in very good shape,” he said. “He has taken advantage of the break to play for the Moroccan national team, score and come back in extraordinary condition.
“He is an important piece for us, as he was last year. I think he will be more important this year.”
