UCL: Real Madrid Battles Back - Ancelotti Urges Optimism
Ancelotti's Real Madrid faces a crucial test against Atalanta, seeking to shake off their slump and restore confidence.
Real Madrid, the record 15-time Champions League winners, are facing a critical test of their mettle as they prepare to face Atalanta on Tuesday. The team's usual ability to deliver under pressure will be put to the test, as they strive to overcome a challenging start to their campaign. With three losses in their first five matches, Real Madrid find themselves in an unaccustomed 24th position in the standings, with the bottom 12 teams facing elimination at the end of the group phase.
While Kylian Mbappe's goal-scoring rate is not a significant concern, his overall performances have been underwhelming, considering his status as one of the world's top players. Recent high-profile penalty misses against Liverpool in the Champions League and Athletic Bilbao in LaLiga, both of which resulted in defeats, have intensified the scrutiny on Mbappe.
Mbappe has also been dealing with off-field issues, including his omission from two recent France squads and a dispute with Paris Saint-Germain over an unpaid salary claim. Additionally, he is reportedly under investigation in Sweden in a rape case. However, Mbappe has denied any involvement, stating, “I received nothing, no summons. I read the same thing as everyone else. The Swedish government hasn't said anything - I'm not involved,” in an interview with Canal+ on Sunday.
The dynamics between Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior have been a topic of interest, as both players prefer to occupy the left wing position. Manager Carlo Ancelotti had initially utilized Mbappe as a center-forward for a significant portion of the season. However, in a recent match, Ancelotti opted to switch their positions, only to have Vinicius suffer an injury shortly thereafter.
Ancelotti cited Mbappe's break from international duty as the reason for deploying him on the wing, while Vinicius had recently returned from playing in South America. The coach acknowledged that Mbappe's struggles were not solely his responsibility, but rather a symptom of the team's broader consistency issues. Although Ancelotti accepted criticism for Real Madrid's subpar form, which has seen the team lose five games across all competitions, he remained resolute, stating that his team would continue to fight.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti remains optimistic about his team's prospects, despite their recent struggles. Following Madrid's defeat at Athletic Bilbao, their fifth loss of the season, Ancelotti emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive outlook. “It's not a funeral - we're still fighting in all competitions,” he said. “We have to be optimistic, keeping in mind the problems we're having and have had.”
Ancelotti expressed confidence in his team's ability to turn their season around, citing the quality of his squad. “But we have to be optimistic because we have a quality squad,” he noted. “We have not been able to find our best form, but I am convinced we will sooner or later.” A convincing 3-0 win over Girona in LaLiga on Saturday has provided a much-needed boost, and a strong performance against Atalanta would help alleviate concerns in the Spanish capital.
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