“He was not a coward” - Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti speaks up on Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham penalty decision in Getafe win
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has hailed under-pressure forward Kylian Mbappe after he allowed Jude Bellingham to take a penalty in the win over Getafe. Los Blancos bounced back from a UEFA Champions League defeat at Anfield to claim a 2-0 win over neighbours Getafe in LaLiga.
Mbappe came under heavy criticism after missing a crucial penalty against Liverpool with the score 1-0 in favor of the English side. In the absence of Vinicius Jr, the Frenchman stepped up but saw Caoimhin Kelleher make a fairly comfortable save from his poorly-struck kick.
In the 30th minute of the game against Getafe, Antonio Rudiger won his side a penalty, which was converted by Jude Bellingham. Speaking to the press ahead of their next game against Athletic Club, Real Madrid manager Ancelotti praised Mbappe for being generous in leaving the penalty for Bellingham.
“Mbappé leaving his penalty to Bellingham? Well, you can see he was not a coward. We evaluate this gesture very highly. I like that, we like that. Kylian has been very generous,” he said (via Fabrizio Romano).
France international Mbappe has come under intense scrutiny since completing a high-profile Bosman transfer from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to Los Blancos over the summer. The 25-year-old has faced a testing run of form which saw him dropped from the France national team in November.
Kylian Mbappe was also on the scoresheet for the Spanish champions against Getafe, curling home a trademark effort in the 38th minute of the encounter to put his side two up. The former PSG man has now scored eight times in the league this season, more than any player for his team.
Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe among Real Madrid stars for Bilbao trip
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has named a strong squad to face Athletic Club in LaLiga on Wednesday, December 4, as he looks to take advantage of a slip-up by Barcelona. The league leaders dropped points in a defeat to Las Palmas over the weekend, leaving room for Los Blancos to leapfrog them.
France international Aurelien Tchouameni makes his return to the squad, having been out injured since November 5. His return will be welcome due to his ability to play in midfield or the heart of his side's defence in games.
Regulars such as Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Antonio Rudiger and Thibaut Courtois have also made the squad for the trip to San Mames. Youngsters Gonzalo Garcia, Sergio Mestre, and Lorenzo Aguado have also made the squad for the game.