Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said strikers Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior were not letting critics weigh them down after an underwhelming start to the season. New arrival Mbappe netted a brace in his last outing for the club following three La Liga games without a goal, while Vinicius has one strike in the opening four matches.
“They don’t seem affected to me, they are training well, happy. Kylian is progressing each day,” Ancelotti told a news conference. “Many forget they started pre-season in the middle of August... they didn’t have a pre-season, they have improved their fitness with games. They seem very well to me, and happy.”
French superstar Mbappe joined Madrid at the end of his Paris Saint-Germain contract this summer and Ancelotti is still working out how to get the best from the forward, who like Vinicius, prefers to drift in from the left.
Thus far Mbappe has started in the middle with Vinicius in his preferred position, but the Brazilian has lacked spark.
“(Vinicius is) not at his best but he’s still very important for us,” continued Ancelotti. “The last thing I’m worried about is the state of Vinicius, he always works well, it’s just a question of time before he’s at his best. When a player is not 100 percent, the important thing is that he gives all he can.”
Real Madrid face Real Sociedad on Saturday in La Liga ahead of their first Champions League match this season, against Stuttgart at home on Tuesday. Ancelotti said midfielders Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni would not be ready for the trip to San Sebastian but could return after that. “We’ll see in the next few days if they’re available on Tuesday,” added Ancelotti.
Meanwhile, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona face Girona on Sunday in a Catalan derby aiming to secure a fifth win from five La Liga matches at the start of the season. Last season the Catalan giants were upset twice by their upstart minnow neighbours, who thumped Xavi Hernandez’s side 4-2 home and away in the top flight.
Girona, in their fourth ever season in La Liga, ultimately finished third, behind second-place Barca, but for much of the season the Blaugrana could only watch as the tiny club battled Real Madrid for top spot.
Although Girona’s title bid eventually collapsed, their second triumph over Barca secured them Champions League football and delivered Madrid’s record-extending 36th league crown.
A lot has changed since then, with Flick’s arrival in place of Xavi seeming to revitalise Barcelona’s squad.
Led by teenage star Lamine Yamal, new arrival Dani Olmo and veteran striker Robert Lewandowski they have won their opening four matches and are the only team in La Liga with a 100 percent record. Girona, on the other hand, have lost star names including Artem Dovbyk and Savinho and coach Michel Sanchez is still fitting together his replacement puzzle pieces.
After a 3-0 thumping by Atletico, Girona responded with 4-0 and 2-0 wins over Osasuna and Sevilla respectively, indicating they are on the right track once more.
Flick has a long injury list to manage but is expecting to have playmaker Olmo available despite suffering a blow against Serbia while playing for Euro 2024 winners Spain.
Morale is high at the club because of their fine start, including a 7-0 demolition of Valladolid before the international break, and Gavi’s partial return to training on Thursday after a long injury lay-off provided further good news.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Saturday: Mallorca v Villarreal (1200), Espanyol v Alaves (1415), Sevilla v Getafe (1630), Real Sociedad v Real Madrid (1900)
Sunday: Celta Vigo v Real Valladolid (1200), Girona v Barcelona (1415), Las Palmas v Athletic Bilbao (1630), Atletico Madrid v Valencia (1900)
Monday: Rayo Vallecano v Osasuna (1900)
Vinicius Junior
