MADRID/NEW MEXICO:
Carlo Ancelotti warned Real Madrid’s La Liga rivals Saturday that superstar striker Kylian Mbappe’s adaptation period is now complete.
The French forward has performed inconsistently in the Spanish capital following his summer move from Paris Saint-Germain, but has still shown flashes of the magic which mark him out as one of the best players in the world.
Mbappe, 26, has 13 goals in 23 games for Real Madrid across all competitions, and Ancelotti expects many more to follow.
“I think this adaptation period is over, now he’s shown a good version of himself, he can still improve, but in the last games he’s been good, he’s over the little injury he had,” the Madrid coach told a news conference.
“He’s more motivated, more excited, happy to be here. His (adaptation) period, which he obviously needed, because everyone needs it, is over.”
Mbappe scored on his return from a thigh problem as Real Madrid beat Pachuca in midweek to win the Intercontinental Cup.
The forward has endured various off-field problems this season as well as needing to find his place among the Spanish and European champions’ other star names, including Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.
“Where does Mbappe have to improve? Just in consistency,” continued Ancelotti.
“Trying to make moves that only he can make, as often as possible.
“I don’t ask him to be too involved in the build-up, because (of his) characteristics… and after he breaks loose, to put the ball away.”
Joint La Liga leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid face each other on Saturday, with third-place Los Blancos in action on Sunday when Sevilla visit the Santiago Bernabeu.
Ancelotti said the title race would go to the wire this season.
“It will be a league that will be battled for much more than those in recent years,” noted Ancelotti.
“Atletico have everything they need to fight for it, and they will do that, it will be a very entertaining title race and it can be won with fewer than 90 points.”
Girona coach Michel content after Valladolid win
Girona coach Michel hailed his side’s return to winning ways with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid in LaLiga on Friday and called for consistency in the second half of the season.
Last season’s surprise packages Girona bounced back from a six-game winless streak and four straight defeats with a dominant performance that put them eighth in the standings on 25 points, two points off the last European qualification spot.
“I have seen a very good team, especially in things that the team needed, more aggressiveness with and without the ball, the pressure after the loss has been top at all times, we have done very well,” Michel told a press conference.
“(In past games) we dominated the ball but we were not strong in the box, especially in our own, we were not a team that pressed after losing the ball.
Today the aggressiveness, the pressure was incredible, for me the best of the season.” Michel reflected on 2024 following Girona’s third-place finish in LaLiga and their first Champions League appearance.
They have lost five of their six Champions League matches to stand a lowly 30th in the 36-team table and were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by fourth-tier Logrones.
“My goal is for the team to be in the top seven in the league standings, we will see if we are capable, we rely on our consistency in the game,” Michel said.
“If we look at the first six months of 2024, I was very happy, the team was doing well, it was easy to work in that context. These last few months I haven’t given my best version. “It’s wrong to be out of the Copa del Rey and far from qualifying for the Champions League next round, I have failed, I have to improve to coach a team like Girona.” AFP/REUTERS