Kylian Mbappe would not tolerate Carlo Ancelotti’s performances as manager
Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid seems like an inevitable transfer at this point. His announcement being official is a mere formality, likely delayed as a means of protecting him from retaliation by the toxic upper management of PSG, which boasts a president who is facing a 28-month prison sentence and who also threatened a member of Madrid’s staff after the Champions League second leg.
Madridistas joked that they hoped Mbappe did not see Real’s 4-0 loss to Barcelona, though, surely, the PSG star was more concerned with his own team’s spiraling form and 3-0 defeat to Monaco in Ligue 1.
Yet there is a valid point in there, but maybe in a reverse sense. Because a part of me hopes Mbappe was watching Real’s performance and will communicate to Florentino Perez how unacceptable it is.
By now, you may have seen the half-joking video of Mbappe saying that he does not have Ancelotti as a dream manager.
Mbappe was frustrated with PSG’s management, so he wouldn’t approve of this
After watching Ancelotti struggle tactically against the likes of Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal, PSG, and Barcelona, it is clear that he is a step below any good, current manager. Marcelino, Unai Emery, Mauricio Pochettino, and Xavi all embarrassed him tactically. Without David Alaba, Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois, Luka Modric, and Karim Benzema against PSG, Ancelotti would never have been able to save face.
Mbappe would surely never stand for this. Just as I think Erling Haaland watched El Clasico and likely felt that Manchester City are the better short-term sporting project due to Ancelotti’s haphazard “tactics”, I firmly believe Mbappe would communicate to Perez that this is not what he wants.
Remember, a big reason for Mbappe’s frustration with PSG was management. Before Thomas Tuchel’s final season, Leonardo made no significant signings despite Tuchel’s request, and PSG suffered. Tuchel left and led Chelsea to the Champions League title in one of the best modern managing achievements.
Mbappe saw all of that. And he made it clear to PSG they needed to make upgrades. They needed to change their philosophy. But in signing over-the-hill veterans like Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum, and Lionel Messi, they did not appease him.
Real Madrid are getting Mbappe because of his dream for the club. They cannot get complacent, though. They must do what is needed to be done to make sure Mbappe fulfills his potential as a Galactic presence near (not *on*) the level of Cristiano Ronaldo. That is what Mbappe can do for Real, but, as Ronaldo likes to say, only one player cannot make the difference on his own.
Next. 5 burning questions for Real Madrid after the season's end. dark
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Ancelotti does not inspire confidence. If Pochettino has been a question mark for PSG, then what does that say about Ancelotti? He has been even weaker tactically. Just as PSG fans are not fooled by the large lead in Ligue 1, Madridistas are not fooled by their own lead in LaLiga. El Clasico exposed the team. And I have a feeling Mbappe will join the likes of Courtois in clearly expressing to the club what is and isn’t acceptable. Ancelotti tops the list of what is unacceptable. He’s just not good enough for Real Madrid.