Mbappe's adaptation complete, Ancelotti declares
Carlo Ancelotti believes Kylian Mbappe's initial struggles to meet the demands of playing for Real Madrid are now over.
The Frenchman is Madrid's top scorer in LaLiga, netting nine goals in 15 appearances, as well as two in six UEFA Champions League games in his first season for the club.
He also netted the opener in its 3-0 victory over Mexican side Pachuca as it won the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final in midweek, becoming just the third player to score in each of his first two finals for the club across all competitions in the past 10 years, after Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio.
"His adaptation period is over. He has already shown a good version of himself and could still improve," Ancelotti said.
"He has recovered well from the small injury he had. He is motivated, excited, and happy to be here. He needed that period, everyone does, but it's over now."
The Frenchman, who missed last weekend's 3-3 draw at Rayo Vallecano last weekend with a muscle injury, initially struggled with a dip in form and adjusting to the Spanish side, but his resurgence has seen him score five goals in his past seven games for Madrid.
Ancelotti rued the injuries that have kept his four attacking stars from playing together. Vinicius Junior also suffered a muscle injury, missing three league games before returning as a substitute against Vallecano.
"They haven't played much together because sometimes Rodrygo or [Jude] Bellingham have been injured. But from what I've seen, they combine well and adapt to each other's characteristics," he added.
"Sometimes Mbappe has played on the left, sometimes Vinicius has moved inside, and other times Bellingham has drifted to the left. I'm not going to assign a fixed position to all four; I'll give them the freedom to find the right position."
Defenders Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao will be sidelined for several months with anterior cruciate ligament tears suffered early in the season, but there was good news for David Alaba, who could soon return to bolster Madrid's defence before its next UEFA Champions League fixtures.
"Alaba will return to group training in the end of December and will be available by mid-January," Ancelotti said.
Madrid has not lost any of its past 11 matches against Sevilla in LaLiga, its second-best unbeaten run against it in the history of the competition, after a 15-match unbeaten run between 1993 and 2003.
