Ancelotti acknowledges Real Madrid defender’s poor form; keen on helping him return to his best | OneFootball

Before the start of the new season, Ferland Mendy was hailed as one of the players worth keeping an eye on at Real Madrid.

The Frenchman was coming on the back of an excellent first half of 2024, as he notably played a key role in helping Los Blancos lift their 15th Champions League title.

Mendy’s superb form even convinced Real Madrid to delay their pursuit of Alphonso Davies, as coach Carlo Ancelotti was happy with the player’s services.

However, fast forward to the first half of the 2024/25 campaign, Mendy has been far from his best.

Ancelotti acknowledges Mendy’s poor form

In the wake of Mendy’s struggles, a report from Jorge C Picon suggests that Ancelotti has openly acknowledged that the player is currently navigating through a challenging phase in his career.

The Italian, though, is keen on helping Mendy regain his top form. This comes on the back of Mendy’s worrying performances, especially in the Champions League.

Where he once secured 62.1% of duels, he now manages only 46.6%, and his average steals per 90 minutes have dropped from 3.6 to 2.8.

Will Ancelotti retain faith in Ferland Mendy? (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

These numbers have not escaped the notice of the Real Madrid coaching staff and players alike, who unanimously agree that Mendy must step up his game.

The emergence of Fran García, previously not seen as a starter, has added pressure on Mendy.

However, this competition is viewed as a motivational factor for the 29-year-old, especially as he is one of the more seasoned players in the squad.

His history of muscular issues has been a setback, but there’s a strategic plan in place to manage his match load. Real Madrid want to ensure he peaks during the critical months of March, April, and May when titles are on the line.

In the meantime, Real Madrid remain on the hunt for a new left-back next summer, with the signing of Alphonso Davies potentially on the agenda.