Carlo Ancelotti attempted to calm the criticism aimed at Kylian Mbappé following his missed penalty in Real Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night.
A Stressful Night for Mbappé and Ancelotti
On Wednesday, Mbappé was not the only one under heavy criticism from the Spanish press. While his penalty miss was a hot topic, Ancelotti was also criticized for his perceived tactical confusion.
Remaining measured in his remarks, the Italian coach tried to defuse the situation during the press conference, defending both his decisions and his star player.
“He’s Not at His Best”
“I haven’t spoken to him,” Ancelotti told the journalists. “It was a tough, competitive match. When the game was tied, we hoped to regain control, but small details cost us.
We missed a penalty… but I’m not going to judge a player’s performance based only on a penalty, which can be made or missed. Kylian is obviously sad and disappointed, but we have to move forward.”
Mbappé’s Form
The Madrid coach acknowledged that Mbappé was not at his best but took care to respond calmly to a journalist’s comment suggesting that the French forward’s current level was “less than 1% of what he showed at PSG.” “It’s much more than 1%,” Ancelotti replied. “He’s not at his best, but we have to give him time to adapt. He has already scored 10 goals this season and is working to improve.”
The Penalty Debate
Asked about Mbappé’s decision to take the penalty instead of Jude Bellingham, Ancelotti refused to engage in any controversy. “It doesn’t bother me, it’s a normal situation in football. I think the two players discussed it, and Kylian took responsibility. Unfortunately, he didn’t take the shot well, but these things happen.”
Ancelotti now hopes his team can quickly bounce back and get back on the winning track.
