Carlo Ancelotti defends Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappé despite Real Madrid’s underwhelming performance in the Champions League.
Despite securing a 2-1 victory over Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Round of 16 on Tuesday, Vinicius Junior (24, 9 UCL games, 7 goals) and Kylian Mbappé (26, 11 UCL games, 7 goals) failed to make an impact. However, Carlo Ancelotti defended his star forwards in a post-match press conference.
“Facing Atlético’s defense is never easy. We didn’t have many chances. They worked hard, they fought… They didn’t showcase their full quality, but they’ll have the opportunity to do so in the second leg,” the Italian coach explained.
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Ancelotti did not shy away from acknowledging Mbappé’s disappointing performance: “Mbappé wasn’t at his best.”
The French forward struggled to make an impact, receiving harsh criticism from the Spanish press, with outlets like Marca and AS rating him a 4/10. His display was labeled worrying, with comparisons drawn to his inconsistent early-season form, raising concerns about his influence in big matches.
With the second leg approaching, both forwards will have the chance to silence the critics and step up when it matters most.
