Carlo Ancelotti identifies Kylian Mbappe as 'problem' at Real Madrid after public dig
Kylian Mbappe's arrival at Real Madrid was met with enormous fanfare but has also given Carlo Ancelotti a tactical headache, with Los Blancos currently nine points behind rivals Barcelona
by Nathan Ridley · The MirrorCarlo Ancelotti has identified Kylian Mbappe as the main problem in his faltering Real Madrid side.
Mbappe, 25, joined the reigning Spanish and European champions this summer on a long-awaited free transfer which was supposed to herald a new era of dominance. But Ancelotti's men have already lost as many games this season (two) as they did throughout the entirety of last term when they won another La Liga-Champions League double.
Playing as the No.9, Mbappe has scored eight goals in 14 games so far but his arrival has pushed Jude Bellingham out of position and made life more difficult for Vinicius Junior. Legendary boss Ancelotti has experimented with various formations to try and get a tune out of his star-studded attack but he's yet to find a solution.
Los Blancos were humiliated on home soil last month by losing 4-0 to in-form Barcelona, who are already nine points clear at the top of the table, although they've have played one game more. Real's game away to Valencia on Saturday was postponed due to flash-flooding on the east coast of Spain which has tragically killed at least 210 people.
Ahead of Tuesday's game at home to AC Milan in the Champions League, Ancelotti has reportedly reached a conclusion of what's holding his side back - Mbappe. According to Relevo, the former Paris Saint-Germain striker's work rate - or lack thereof - out of possession is what Ancelotti believes their main problem is, as it leaves Real unbalanced when defending.
The Italian and his coaching staff want Mbappe to be more self-critical and wiling to carry out his defensive duties. Robert Lewandowski's opening goal in El Clasico has been used an example to show Mbappe where he's going wrong, as Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado was afford too much space on the ball and had time to pick out the Pole instead of being pressured.
One the players most affected by the 25-year-old not pulling his weight is England star Bellingham, who's now been moved out to the left of midfield after making the false nine role his own during his debut season. Mbappe ran just eight kilometres against Barca, after which Ancelotti criticised his finishing and lack of attacking discipline, having been caught offside a whopping eight times.
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"We knew that they played with a high line, and we just couldn't take advantage of it," Ancelotti bemoaned post-match. "Sometimes (Mbappe) fell offside, but he had three or four chances to score and needed a better finishing touch."
Real don't have any regrets about signing Mbappe but if they want to repeat their success from last season, the Frenchman will seemingly need to change his ways.
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