Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has defended forward Kylian Mbappe after he missed a penalty in their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
The French forward was well marshaled by young Liverpool defender Conor Bradley and was anonymous for a large part of the match.
He was presented with a chance to equalize for his side when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on substitute Lucas Vasquez by Andrew Robertson.
Caoimhin Kelleher saved the spot kick as Mbappe’s frustration in front of goal continued. The 25-year old forward has struggled to adapt to life in Spain and has scored just once in 5 UEFA Champions League matches this season.
“This has happened before in my career many times, when you are a striker you want to score and get a bit of confidence. It is a difficult moment, we have to support him and give him our love. He will soon be fine”, Ancelotti said.
The match also saw Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah miss a spot kick at the other end after shooting wide despite sending Thibaut Courtois the wrong way.
Second half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo was enough as the Reds came out victorious in the encounter to take them back to the top of the UEFA Champions League table.
“The remedy is to be patient because it’s a difficult moment for him after missing the penalty. Everyone has to support him because it will come off soon. He has to work hard and fight because the moment will pass.
“He’s working well and has adapted well. We have to be patient because he’s an extraordinary player”, he added.
Real Madrid have won just twice in five games in the Champions League this season and must win their next match at Atalanta to keep alive their hopes of defending their title.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
