Ancelotti: Mbappe Can Be Better After Failing To Execute Penalty

Kylian Mbappe still received full support despite failing to kick a penalty (Instagram/@realmadrid).

Carlo Ancelotti insists that Kylian Mbappe could do better after failing to execute his second penalty in a week.

The problem is, when Mbappe missed the penalty, Real Madrid always lost.

The first failure occurred in the Champions League when he visited Liverpool headquarters. Mbappe could not do his job well to equalize from the penalty spot.

His shot was parried by the Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kel his neck which resulted in Real Madrid losing 0-2.

Most recently, Mbappe again missed a penalty while visiting Athletic Bilbao.

Again, the situation was dark, Los Blancos were 0-1 behind. Mbappe then got the opportunity to equalize with a penalty. However, the execution in the 68th minute was pushed over by goalkeeper Julen Girrezabala.

In the end, Real Madrid lost 1-2 at San Mames on Thursday, December 5, 2024.

However, Ancelotti did not want to blame the French player. In fact, this failure could make Mbappe better in the future.

"I haven't spoken to (Mbappe) yet. I shouldn't judge a player's game based on a penalty."

"Sometimes you score goals, sometimes not. Obviously he is sad and disappointed, but we have to keep going."

"Fede (Valverde) is sad and disappointed like Kylian, but Fede is a great player. People make mistakes in football," Ancelotti said when asked how the players felt.

The pressure for Mbappe was endless even though he had contributed 10 goals in 20 appearances in all competitions so far.

Criticism of him has increased seeing his performances in the past month. He was also appointed as the person in full responsibility for the defeat against Atelptic Bilbao.

Mbappe did not deny that his mistake made the club struggling. However, he refused to fall, even more motivated.

"Poor result. A big mistake in the game where every detail is taken into account."

"I take full responsibility for that. It's a difficult moment, but it's the best time to change this situation and show who I am," Mbappe wrote.

Ancelotti also gave full support. The Italian coach even confirmed that Mbappe would continue to be the penalty taker for Real Madrid, alongside Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.

"He's not at his best yet, but we have to give him time to adapt."

"He has scored 10 goals, he can play better, and he is trying to do better," said the Real Madrid coach.

Previously, Mbappe had refused the opportunity to take a penalty against Getafe on Sunday, December 1, 2024.

He handed over to Bellingham who successfully carried out his duties. In that match, Real Madrid won 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, which happened between the moment of Mbappe's penalty failure against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao.

However, Ancelotti remains reluctant to get rid of Mbappe from his team's penalty taker list.

This was done by the coach so that Mbappe returned to his confidence and proved the trust given.

"He took responsibility for taking today's penalty, and the result was not good. But in football, it can happen," said Ancelotti.

The defeat to Athletic Bilbao left Real Madrid four points behind La Liga leaders, Barcelona, despite having one more game.

Next, Los Blancos will try to get back up again when they travel to Girona's headquarters on Sunday, December 8, 2024.