Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media after Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Las Palmas to take over top spot in the La Liga table. After the match, Ancelotti was asked about Kylian Mbappé’s performance and positioning, to which he said: “He is the best centre forward in the world, there were doubts about whether he could play there or whether he would be better on the left. He is a great striker, he is very good in the centre, more so than on the wing, his running is unique and he can take better advantage of it inside.”
Ancelotti on being praised after criticism
“Football is like that now, I’m still a bit confused. There are days when we play very bad football and I see Madrid leading. I will continue studying to see if I’m wrong or not. The match was complete, with a lot of quality. We started badly, but we held on well. Mbappé helped us a lot.”
Ancelotti on how to make the team aware of it
“We are capable of having a balance to have good moments and difficult moments. I think that the criticism is harsher with Madrid than with other teams, yes. There is criticism and there is criticism, the whistles are criticisms that hurt, it is the fans who are not happy, and that motivates. It is a wake-up call. What happened against Celta was a useful wake-up call for the team, we have put out a good version.”
Ancelotti on whether Real Madrid play the best football
“I don’t want to say that we are the ones who play the best, sometimes we play well and sometimes we don’t. The team is working hard, sometimes it plays better and sometimes it doesn’t, sometimes it lacks balance, sometimes it lacks commitment… Nobody is perfect. I don’t see any super-team playing fantastically, we try to play with the characteristics of our players.”
Ancelotti on the order of the penalty takers
“Vinicius, Mbappé and Bellingham.”
Ancelotti on whether this was the toughest week
“No, it has been a difficult week, like all the others when you get hit and you have to be with the team, cheering them on… When you lose the Clásico it is more difficult, of course, but in difficult times the only way to get through it is to be self-critical and positive.”
Ancelotti on Ceballos’ quotes about Simeone
“I’ve already said what I had to say, I consider this a closed topic.”