(Reuters) – Self-criticism has helped Real Madrid overcome a challenging period and fueled striker Kylian Mbappe’s integration into the team, manager Carlo Ancelotti said after their 4-2 home win against Sevilla on Sunday.
The 26-year-old Frenchman netted the opener and set up another goal as Real beat Sevilla in the middle to move up to second in LaLiga, closing the gap on leaders Atletico Madrid to a point before the winter break.
Federico Valverde, Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz were also on target for Real, but it was Mbappe, now with six goals in his last eight games, who led the way as the victory lifted Madrid to 40 points, two ahead of third-placed Barcelona.
Mbappe had struggled to adapt to the Spanish side following his end-of-season move, experiencing a dip in form and a brief spell on the sidelines.
Reigning champions Madrid struggled to keep up with their rivals early in the season and were beaten 4-0 by Barcelona in October.
The Italian manager admitted that a lack of attitude and collective effort had held back his star-studded side, but introspection has helped the team find their rhythm again.
The hiatus has stung the most in the Champions League, where the reigning champions lie in 20th place after three wins and three losses, but Ancelotti said a turnaround is on the horizon for Madrid, who have ended their double-winning year in good fashion.
“After the defeat against AC Milan, we resolved things in the dressing room by talking very clearly,” Ancelotti said.
“The self-criticism has made us clarify what we were missing, which was a little lack of attitude, of collective commitment, of running a little more.
“We have gone back to doing things the way we should have done them… Mbappe has been self-critical and that is why he has got out of a situation that could have been complicated.”
Ancelotti had insisted before the match that he had confidence in Mbappe’s ability to meet the club’s lofty expectations and said the talisman has proved him right.
“His adaptation period is over and today he proved me right from time to time,” Ancelotti said,
“In 2024, I give the team A+. Last season was great. We started (this season) with more difficulty, but we were able to fix the situation in time and there is hope for 2025, but it is difficult to repeat it. We will try.”
(Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
