Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has addressed concerns about Kylian Mbappé’s recent inconsistent performances, describing them as "normal" given the demanding nature of the season and the inherent traits of top-quality players. The French forward, who joined Madrid last summer from Paris Saint-Germain, has experienced both highs and lows this season. After a slow start, Mbappé hit a rich vein of form, including a hat-trick against Manchester City, but his displays in recent matches against Atletico Madrid and Real Betis have raised questions among fans.
Ancelotti acknowledged Mbappé’s struggles in the Champions League clash with Atletico and the La Liga game against Betis, contrasting them with his standout performance against City. “Against City, he scored three goals, but against Atletico, he didn’t score. It wasn’t his best version,” Ancelotti said during a press conference ahead of Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. Despite these fluctuations, the coach expressed overall satisfaction with Mbappé’s contributions, emphasizing that even top players cannot always perform at their peak.
Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Atletico in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, with the second leg set for Wednesday. Mbappé played a pivotal role in the previous round against Manchester City, scoring four goals across two legs as Madrid advanced with a 6-3 aggregate win. This season, the 26-year-old has netted 28 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions.
Ancelotti attributed Mbappé’s inconsistency to the grueling schedule and the natural tendencies of highly skilled players. “In such a demanding season, inconsistency is quite normal, especially for players of his quality. Players with great talent often have more ups and downs because it’s genetic—they find it harder to maintain consistency,” he explained. The coach also highlighted Mbappé’s crucial role in Madrid’s Champions League campaign, noting that his four goals in the previous round were instrumental in reaching the last 16.
In La Liga, Madrid currently sit third, three points behind leaders Barcelona, who face Osasuna on Saturday. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger may miss the Rayo Vallecano match due to illness. Ancelotti expressed confidence in his team’s readiness, stating that the recent defeat to Betis was a result of limited preparation time. “We’re ready to fight in all competitions. I’m much calmer ahead of tomorrow’s game because we’ve had five days of rest,” he said.
