Carlo Ancelotti hints at probable Real Madrid lineup with Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe has been unveiled as a new Real Madrid player. The French superstar is yet to play his first game for Real Madrid, so it is difficult to understand how Carlo Ancelotti plans to use him. It goes without saying that Mbappe will be a focal point in the Madrid team but how it affects the players around him and their positions remains to be seen.

Kylian Mbappe has played in a few different positions throughout his career. He can play as a centre forward or a winger, so it truly does come to Carlo Ancelotti's preference. From a fan's perspective, it is next to impossible to predict any Ancelotti decision, let alone his tactical configurations. After all, it's Ancelotti's unpredictability which has made him a dominant force in European football.

Carlo Ancelotti hints at probable Real Madrid lineup with Kylian Mbappe

The Don Carlo Ancelotti recently made an appearance on the Obi One Podcast, a podcast co-hosted by a former Ancelotti player, John Obi Mikel. One of the topics of discussion, which Ancelotti spoke openly about, was the integration of Kylian Mbappe into the staring lineup and more particularly, in which position the Frenchman will play.

In his own words (quoted by the Daily Mail), Ancelotti said: 'I see him playing up front. The front, the attack, is quite wide - the pitch is 68 metres. We have to cover these 68 metres with the players in front."

No matter where Carlo Ancelotti has managed, he has always placed a particular emphasis on 'covering the entirety of the pitch'. This is why whenever a team comes up against Real Madrid, it feels like Real Madrid are playing with an extra player.

Ancelotti continued: "If I ask you where Vinicius played last season, it's difficult to say. He didn't [strictly] play as a left winger. He moved. The important key to the attacking players is the mobility of the players. Sometimes they can play on the left, sometimes down the middle."

Here, Ancelotti is referring to the attacking fluidity which makes it impossible to defend against Real Madrid. It is almost impossible for a team to man-mark Real Madrid players, since they can fluctuate between positions. This is why defending teams must take a zonal approach, which works in Real Madrid's favour nine times out of ten.

Then, Ancelotti said: "Bellingham sometimes played on the left, sometimes in the middle, sometimes went to the right. Rodrygo started most of the games on the right, sometimes I saw him playing on the left. So it's important, the mobility. 'We are not so worried where Mbappe will play. I think it's true, it's important about the mobility up front.'

So, what Carlo Ancelotti could be hinting at here is a philosophy which encompasses all of Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior. He is aware that each of the four players can cover any position up front, in what would certainly be the best attack in European football.

How do you think Real Madrid will lineup with Kylian Mbappe in the side?