WHAT HAPPENED?
After a relatively slow start to life at Madrid following his move from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, the 25-year-old has notched eight goals in 12 games for the Spanish giants. But Los Blancos manager Ancelotti wants more goals from the Frenchman, while being less fussed about him pressing the opposition. This was something he also said to former striker Benzema when he was at the Santiago Bernabeu.
WHAT CARLO ANCELOTTI SAID
The Italian told reporters: “I demand that Mbappe scores goals. I prefer him to score goals than to press. I ask Mbappe what I asked Karim Benzema, that he be ready when we recover the ball.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Benzema left Madrid as a club legend in 2023 for Saudi Pro League team Al-Ittihad. The France international scored a remarkable 354 goals for the club and delivered them a hatful of trophies along the way. Expectations are very high for Mbappe at Madrid but if he keeps his head down and fires in the goals, the criticism may ebb away.
WHAT NEXT?
Mbappe – who scored in his side’s 2-1 win over Celta Vigo at the weekend – will get the chance to shine for Madrid again on Tuesday when they host Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in a repeat of last season’s final.