At Real Madrid, there is no longer any free pass for the players. No element is above the club, and no one, not even the biggest stars, is exempt from the collective effort. This is the message that is frequently conveyed, and which was in a way recalled by Carlo Ancelotti after the draw conceded in Mallorca (1-1) Sunday evening during the first day of La Liga.
“I am not happy with the attitude and the collective investment at the defensive levelfumed the Italian coach, whose outbursts of this type are rare. We didn’t play as a unit, we didn’t press when we lost the ball and when we lose it, all the players have to think about getting it back. We have to defend better and have more balance. We are a very offensive team and defensive balance is even more fundamental.”
Mbappé not the only one concerned, but…
This message concerns Kylian Mbappé, who does not like to defend, who has sometimes claimed it, and who often forces his coaches to line him up in point rather than on the left so as not to weaken this defensive side. But this time, he is not the only one targeted, because Vinicius and Rodrygo did not really shine by their withdrawal in Mallorca.
The difference is that both Brazilian forwards proved they could defend fiercely in big Champions League games last season. Can Mbappé match up? He will have to.
