Tuesday, December 3, 2024, 1:41 p.m.
Carlo Ancelotti leaves the debates. Where some see controversy, he esteems virtue. The Italian coach of Real Madrid played down the issue of Kylian Mbappé, who refused to take a penalty against Getafe at the Santiago Bernabéu itself because he missed the previous one, against Liverpool at Anfield. And on three occasions the journalists in Valdebebas asked him about the action of the Bondy star, who gave up his pitch to Jude Bellingham last Sunday.
«Action can be seen as an insecurity, and we see it as an act of responsibility and altruism. It is an act that we value very much,” highlighted the Real Madrid coach one day before facing Athletic Bilbao, where the Bondy star will receive his baptism of fire in La Catedral, a scene where he arrives quite questioned due to his performance and lack of aim. He has nine goals in 18 games. Not bad figures for a forward. But they are far from meeting expectations. It is not normal for an elite striker to find the goal every 9.3 times. He is the forward who finishes the most in Spain and the second in the major European leagues. And also the one who needs more scoring chances to put the ball into the goal.
«We are going to play in a great atmosphere, against a great rival. I think we are in a good moment and we will try to get a good version of ourselves. “Athletic is doing well, intensely, one of the best in Spain,” praised the man from Reggiolo, happy to recover a key piece who was in the infirmary like Tchouaméni, who was part of the select group of injured due to a sprain in the ankle. He did not want to reveal whether he will play as a center back or a pivot, but he did congratulate himself on his recovery. «He has shown usefulness at a defensive level as a center back and defensive pivot. It gives us height on set pieces, which is an aspect in which we have suffered. “With injuries we have lost height.”
It is the great news for the match against the Basques, in addition to the excellent performance of Raúl Asencio, center back of the Madrid youth team who has already started in the last few games. «I have been surprised, especially by the maturity he has, the calmness he has in handling game situations. “He has already passed the litmus test, he can be considered a player on our squad with all the merit, because he deserves it.” His good performances in the defense lead the return of the French international to occupy his natural pivot position in the center of the field, which is necessary after the loss of Camavinga. In this way, the youth player frees the French international from the need to act as a center back, allowing him to strengthen the center.
The white team, currently second classified, faces a new league matchday, corresponding to matchday 19 brought forward by the Spanish Super Cup that will be played in Saudi Arabia at the beginning of 2025, to face Ernesto Valverde’s team. There are three consecutive victories in the league – Osasuna, Leganés and Getafe – and the distance with the current leader, Barça, is only one point, with one game less (against Valencia, postponed by DANA). «We are there, fighting. “When we have the full squad, we will compete better,” added the Madrid coach to the media, where he praised the good performances of Dani Ceballos and pointed to a technical decision for Mendy’s last substitution to the detriment of Fran García.
The Italian also highlighted Bellingham’s growth in recent weeks and how its performance is approaching that of the best games of last season. “The team’s better dynamics have allowed it to score goals again. Jude has always played good games, but now he is more successful. Now we have more clarity and success in possession. “Mbappé has also allowed us to open the final third more, and Jude has taken advantage of this.”
