Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti urged star forward Kylian Mbappe to prioritize scoring goals over pressing, as the club continues to adapt to his playing style following his summer arrival from Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday ahead of Madrid’s crucial Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund, Ancelotti emphasized that he prefers Mbappe to focus on finishing opportunities.
“I prefer that Mbappe scores goals than he presses,” said Ancelotti.
He clarified that his expectations for Mbappe’s role mirror those he had for Karim Benzema, who left the club in 2023.
“The central striker position in our team has not changed.
I ask him the same I asked of Karim: to be well positioned and ready to make a rapid transition every time we recover the ball,” he continued.
Mbappe has netted eight goals in 12 games for Madrid across all competitions this season.
However, his tally is being compared to Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, who has scored 14 goals in the same number of appearances.
Madrid, who are still searching for their best form this season, will host Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday in a rematch of last season’s Champions League final, which Madrid won to secure their 15th European title.
Mbappe recently faced criticism in France for missing the national team’s Nations League games after recovering from a thigh injury.
Additionally, Swedish media reported that he is being investigated for an alleged incident during a trip to Stockholm, which Mbappe has denied, calling the reports “fake news.”
Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid has also led to a shift in the role of Jude Bellingham, the standout midfielder from last season.
Bellingham, who was a key attacking force for Los Blancos last year, has yet to score in nine appearances this season, after an impressive start in his debut campaign where he netted 10 goals in his first 10 games.
Despite the lack of goals, Ancelotti praised Bellingham’s contribution to the team.
“We’re satisfied with his work… because he works a lot on the pitch.
He’s always there, he competes, fights, and sacrifices himself,” said Ancelotti.
“The truth is he hasn’t scored the goals he did last year, but the surprise wasn’t this year, it was last year—he scored a heap of goals that no one expected,” Ancelotti continued.
As Madrid prepares for another crucial European night, all eyes will be on Mbappe to deliver the goals Ancelotti is counting on.
