Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti explains if Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe will change positions after recent struggles in form
Carlo Ancelotti has cleared the air regarding the positional roles of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr at Real Madrid.
Ancelotti’s statement comes on the heels of growing questions about Kylian Mbappe’s goalscoring form in La Liga, as the French forward is yet to score or assist for Real Madrid in La Liga this season. In contrast, Vinicius Jr. has shown glimpses of his talent, scoring one goal and providing an assist in Los Blancos' three La Liga matches so far.
Addressing the media, Ancelotti emphasized that despite the options available to switch their positions, the current setup is likely to remain unchanged for the time being. The Italian manager said via (Madrid Xtra):
"Mbappé and Vinicius can switch positions on the pitch, but Vinicius has been playing more on the left and we will continue like this."
Ancelotti’s decision not to alter the positional responsibilities of both players may not come as a surprise to many, given that Vinicius Jr has been one of the standout performers for Real Madrid.
On the other hand, Kylian Mbappe has struggled to find his footing in La Liga this season. Although Mbappe’s form has not met expectations, Ancelotti appears confident that the Frenchman's quality will eventually shine through. His only goal for Los Blancos came against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup, where they won 2-0.
Vinicius Jr reveals what he thinks of fellow Real Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappe
Vinicius Jr has heaped praise on Kylian Mbappe's footballing abilities but doesn’t think Real Madrid will be unstoppable because of the arrival of the French forward. Mbappe moved to Los Blancos this summer on a free transfer. And after his arrival at the club, expectations would undoubtedly be high, as Los Blancos were in red-hot form even before Mbappe’s arrival.
Vinicius told CNN (via GOAL);
“I love Mbappe’s style, I love how he plays, and the truth is that I’m very excited about what we can do during the season. He’s coming in after having scored so many goals, after winning so many titles."
"He’s arriving at the club he always dreamed to be in and where every player always dreamed to play for: Real Madrid. God willing, Mbappé will be able to score as many goals for us as he did in his previous team, as he does in the national team, and that he can do even more together with us.”
He added:
"The team is very good and has been that way for a long time now. Now with the arrival of Mbappé, everyone says the team can become unstoppable, but for now, we have to perform the best training sessions and try to understand each other as quickly as possible.”
Real Madrid will next be seen in action in a La Liga home fixture against Real Betis on Sunday, September 1.