2024-09-25 11:40:03
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that his striker Kylian Mbappe asked to be brought … [+]
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that his striker Kylian Mbappe asked to be brought off during Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Deportivo Alaves in La Liga.
According to MARCA, which cited anonymous sources, the Frenchman will undergo tests to see whether he is injured or not amid suffering discomfort in his left thigh.
Mbappe scored a wonderful, inspired goal to make it 2-0 in the Bernabeu approaching half time, following Lucas Vazquez’s opener on 55 seconds.
Leaving the pitch with 80 minutes down on the clock and his team leading 3-0 after Rodrygo netted, Mbappe missed a late comeback from the visitors which concerned Los Blancos fans.
He had worries of his own, however, with Ancelotti insisting that Mbappe is fine yet revealeing that his striker asked to come off “to avoid problems”.
“He’s very good, in attack we’re doing very well,” the Italian also said about Mbappe later on.
“For an hour the team played very well, looking for opportunities in different ways, in transition, filtering passes… The team is improving, it’s good for us, the schedule is very demanding. Sunday will also be very demanding,” he added about the Madrid derby against Atletico.
With the Englishman coming back from injury in last weekend’s 4-1 second half demolition of Espanyol, Ancelotti said that his midfielder Jude Bellingham is “growing” after providing a tidy assist for Mbappe and playing “a very complete game”.
“He has to get used to [being] in the area a little more, like last year. It’s more complicated against a team in a low block like Alaves. I ask Bellingham to do that kind of work, not to score goals – we can score at any time,” Ancelotti stressed.
Asked to explain how Madrid almost threw away the game as Alaves appeared on the verge of a three-goal comeback to perhaps draw the proceedings, Ancelotti offered it was “simply because this is football, [and] football is like that”.
“When you think the game is over, a small mistake is enough for them to score the first and the confidence of the rival team and your distrust come out.
“That’s what happens many times in football. We don’t want this to happen, but sometimes it can happen. It should be noted that for 60 minutes the team played very, very well and this gives us confidence”.
After cutting FC Barcelona’s lead to just one point ahead of the Catalans playing Getafe on Wednesday, Madrid now turns attention towards the derby.
