How does Carlo Ancelotti solve Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe problem? | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappe has had a strange start to life as a Real Madrid player.

It was a move a few years in the making, with Mbappe dreaming of making the switch from Paris Saint-Germain to the record European champions. But it hasn’t been a dream start.

On the face of it, Mbappe’s record doesn’t look too bad for a player at a new club. In La Liga he has scored six goals in 11 games. Across all competitions, the Frenchman has made it eight goals in 16 matches.

But this is Mbappe. And this is Real Madrid.

Mbappe’s six goals this season have come at 0.57 per 90 minutes in La Liga, from 4.97 shots, 2.29 of which have hit the target. In totals, he leads La Liga with his 52 shots with only Robert Lewandowski (26) hitting the target more times.

But these numbers have dropped from his final year at PSG. Last season, Mbappe averaged 1.13 goals scored per 90, from 5 shots per 90 and 2.46 shots on target.

In terms of Expected Goals, Mbappe is performing slightly worse too. This season he has an xG of 0.77 per 90, and an xG On Target of 0.74 per 90. So he’s actually lowering his chances of scoring slightly with his shot placement. Whereas in Ligue 1 last season, Mbappe had an xG of 0.87 and an xG0T of 0.95 — bettering his chances of scoring.

Mbappe has been having more fun taking on players in Spain though. The Frenchman has averaged 6.21 attempted take-ons per 90 in La Liga this season, compared to 5.13 in Ligue 1 last year. He’s completed an average of 2.96 per 90 to 2.54.

So there are some positive signs. But Mbappe’s biggest problem is that he has the second-best player in the world, Vinicius Jr, as his teammate.

“Mbappe dreamed of playing for Real Madrid. He knows perfectly well that Vinícius, who is an exceptional player, plays in the same position as him, is decisive and scores a lot of goals. Mbappe must adapt to this situation and to the different tactics of the team,” former France midfielder Robert Pires said recently.

“Turning down Real Madrid is difficult for any player. The solution is for Mbappe to adapt to Real Madrid’s tactical style, and it is Ancelotti’s job to find tactical solutions that suit both Mbappe and Vinícius.”

It’s something Karim Benzema, who played alongside Mbappe for France, recently echoed.

He said: “The problem for me is that Mbappé is not a centre forward. Whenever he plays for France as a 9, he does not perform well; it is not his position. The issue is that on the left, there is another player who is at the same level as him.”

Playing on the left wing, Vinicius Jr has averaged 0.73 goals per 90 minutes in La Liga this season. He’s taken 3.38 shots per 90 and hit the target 1.01 times. He’s also provided 0.37 assists.

In terms of take-ons, Vinicius Jr beats Mbappe for attempts (6.95) and completions (3.02) per 90. But, despite outperforming his xG per 90 of 0.53, Vinicius Jr’s xGOT is 0.47, a 0.06 drop — compared to Mbappe’s 0.03.

Even though Mbappe is starting through the middle, the Frenchman is spending a lot of time on the left. It leaves gaps in the middle that Real Madrid just aren’t filling, especially with Jude Bellingham not in an advanced position.

“It’s almost always Bellingham that tries to make the runs, makes the team play,” Thierry Henry said recently.

“He is still the one who tries to break the lines. Who is running and trying to get to the finish line? It’s Bellingham that is doing Mbappe’s job.

“Do you think Bellingham likes to do these runs to stretch the team? He does it because he has the desire and the will to do it. You have to give him time, but he must learn to play as a 9 and have the desire and the will to do so. I think the team is frustrated with him, which I can understand.”

So how does Ancelotti fix it?

Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Mbappe has spent some time on the right wing. It came as PSG were trying to fit both him and one of Angel Di Maria or Neymar into their starting XIs, before Mbappe was moved central.

Mbappe had a decent record in his first season at PSG on the right wing, scoring 21 goals across all competitions as a teenager. Of course, the issue would then arise of who plays through the middle. But Jude Bellingham performed the role well last season as a sort of No.9.5 behind Rodrygo and Vinicius.

Or, Ancelotti could hark back to his formation from the start of the season. Playing Mbappe alongside Vinicius Jr through the middle, with Bellingham just behind them. They tried something similar against AC Milan in the Champions League, with a strike partnership of Mbappe an Vinicius Jr.

Mbappe and Vinicius Jr would need to build the partnership, learning to rotate between who drifts wide and who stays central. But that’s what the best players do.

“He is facing strong criticism in both France and Spain, as he is not at his best. Currently, he is not decisive for Real Madrid and is not scoring or creating many goal-scoring opportunities,” Pires added.

“Real Madrid fans had high expectations for Mbappe since his arrival. However, changing country, team and team-mates is not easy, especially when it comes to a club with the best players on the planet. Mbappe must face these criticisms, change his style of play, recognize that he is not at his best and improve his performance.”