Carlo Ancelotti: Kylian Mbappe’s ‘Highs and Lows’ at Real Madrid Are to Be Expected

French sensation Kylian Mbappe’s “highs and lows” are to be anticipated given the demanding schedule at Real Madrid and the expectations placed on elite players like him, remarked coach Carlo Ancelotti on Saturday.

The forward experienced a lacklustre performance against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, alongside an earlier La Liga outing against Real Betis, just days following his remarkable hat-trick against Manchester City.

Mbappe initially faced difficulties adjusting to life at Madrid after his transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, but he later hit his stride. However, his recent performances have raised concerns among supporters.

“What we noted is that his display against Atletico did not replicate what he achieved against City,” Ancelotti stated at a press conference ahead of the La Liga clash against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

“He scored three against City but didn’t find the net against Atletico.”

“Overall, I believe he is performing very well, and we’re pleased with him. We understand—and so does he—that he cannot always be at his peak.”

“The match against Atletico was not his best showing.”

Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory in the first leg of their last 16 tie, with the return fixture set for Wednesday at the Metropolitano stadium.

In the knockout rounds against Premier League titleholders City, Mbappe scored four goals across both legs, contributing to Madrid’s 6-3 aggregate success.

The 26-year-old forward has netted 28 times in 41 matches across all competitions.

“In such a demanding season, experiencing inconsistency is quite normal, particularly for a player of his calibre,” Ancelotti explained.

“Players with exceptional talent tend to have more fluctuations in their performances because consistency can be more challenging for them, and that was evident in his performance during that match.”

“That being said, he is still performing admirably, and if we are in the Champions League last 16, it’s largely due to his four goals in the previous tie.”

Currently, Madrid sits third in La Liga, three points adrift of table-toppers Barcelona, who were set to face Osasuna on Saturday.

Reports in Spanish media suggest that Los Blancos centre-back Antonio Rudiger may miss the encounter with Rayo due to illness.

“We are prepared to compete in every match across all competitions,” Ancelotti added, noting that the loss to Betis last week was a result of limited preparation time.

“I feel much more at ease ahead of tomorrow’s game, having enjoyed five days of rest.”