MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Saturday superstar striker Kylian Mbappe’s struggles this season are due to his team’s overall lack of consistency.
The French forward missed a penalty as Spanish and European champions Real Madrid lost on Wednesday in the Champions League against Liverpool, their third defeat in five matches in the competition.
Mbappe, who joined in the summer at the end of his Paris Saint-Germain contract, was criticized for his performance and has netted just two goals in his last nine games for Madrid.
“Mbappe’s problem is the problem that we all have. The idea is to try to give our best version, not just of him but myself, other players,” Ancelotti told a news conference ahead of Sunday’s La Liga clash against Getafe.
“It’s not a problem about one player, the problem that we have is one of a team that has not been capable of being consistent. It’s not a problem about one player.
“We have to try and improve that, do everything we can... among other things (Mbappe) is new here and adapting, among other things he’s scored eight goals and has participated in attack, giving assists.
“Yes he can play better, but we can all do better and we will try to.”
Mbappe was not included in the last two France squad lists and has also had off-field issues to deal with during his first months at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“He is absolutely not sunken, he knows he has to improve like we all do... he’s being scrutinized after the Liverpool game because he missed a penalty, like many of my players have,” continued Ancelotti.
The coach said the Liverpool defeat was partly due to losing players through injury, including Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao among others, but that Brazilian winger Rodrygo was fit to face Getafe.
Madrid, second, trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by four points, albeit having played one fewer match.
“I am like Mbappe, I am trying to give my best version,” said Ancelotti.
“Results say that I have not been capable of doing that. I’m not happy... but I’m convinced we will fix it, like we always fix it.”
Mbappe’s problem is Real Madrid’s problem, says Ancelotti
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Mbappe’s problem is Real Madrid’s problem, says Ancelotti
- “Mbappe’s problem is the problem that we all have. The idea is to try to give our best version, not just of him but myself, other players,” Ancelotti told a news conference
- “It’s not a problem about one player”
Lelah Doroh bids for 10th career win
- Two domestic Group Three races are highlight of Riyadh weekend racing
RIYADH: Lelah Doroh (KSA) of the White Stable of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz & Sons will top a seven-runner field in one of the weekend’s feature races at King Abdulaziz Racecourse — the $44,000 (SAR165,000) domestic Group Three JCSA Board of Directors Cup on Saturday.
The 5-year-old, ridden by Camilo Ospina, landed his ninth career success in Taif three starts ago and has since been second in Riyadh before finishing seventh over this 2000m trip in the Group 2 HRH Prince Mohammed bin Saud Al-Kabeer Cup.
Ibn Toulon (KSA) was fourth that day and re-opposes under Alexis Moreno, with the White Stable further represented by Dhydan (KSA) and jockey Fawaz Al-Shammari.
The Red Stable of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz makes up nearly half of the field with three runners. Top rated is Ricardo Ferreira’s mount Tahzeem (KSA), who was fifth in the HRH Prince Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer Cup and has since finished third in last weekend’s 2400m domestic Group 1 he Crown Prince Cup for locally bred horses.
Mashmookh (KSA) was down the field in that and goes to post again for jockey Adel Al-Fouraidi, with the Red Stable trio completed by Abo Shaikhah (KSA) and Tariq Al-Mansour.
Race 11 on Saturday is a $32,000 Open over 1600m and features White Stable’s field Irish import Kortez Bay (IRE) who left the yard of Sheila Lavery in County Meath, where the four-year-old was a winner of two of his 18 starts.
Bader Rizaiq’s runner will have his mettle tested on local debut as he goes up against a quality field of 15 rivals including the consistent Final Destination (GB) for Ferreira, trainer Thamer Al-Daihani and owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Al-Malek Al-Sabah, and the Nicolas Bachalard-handled Henry Q (USA).
The Arabian Horses Open, staged as the eighth event also over 1600m and worth $32,000, looks a great opportunity for Turki Al Khalediah II (KSA) to win again under Al-Fouraidi. He last triumphed in Taif in September, having strung together a sequence of three wins in Riyadh last season, and is well clear of his 18 competitors on the figures.
The second domestic Group Three takes place on Friday and sees 17 juveniles competea for $44,000 in the Ministry of National Guard Cup.
The Red and White Stables, along with Al-Daihani, are responsible for over half of the field, and all have impressive last-time-out winners to rely on — including White Stable’s Alhisham (USA) who scored by over seven lengths on his debut last month.
Ten runners will also take part in the $32,000 Prep for King Saud Cup over 2000m on Friday, headed by Red Stable’s strong stayer My Frankel (GB), while 16 have been declared for a competitive sprint in the $40,000 JCSA Cup over 1200m.
