Carlo Ancelotti has backed Kylian Mbappe to come good amid his mini goal drought, while praising Vinicius Junior after his Real Madrid hat-trick.

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• Mbappe in mini Real Madrid goal drought
• Ancelotti defends France forward
• Praises Vinicius Jr after hat-trick

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Madrid secured a morale-boosting 4-0 win over Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday but Mbappe failed to score for the fourth game running. On the other hand, team-mate Vinicius Jr was the star of the show against – leading coach Ancelotti to wax lyrical about the 24-year-old, who came second behind Rodri in the 2024 Ballon d'Or race. Incidentally, he also had some encouraging words for Mbappe; who has been played as a number nine rather than his favoured left-wing role.

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  WHAT CARLO ANCELOTTI

  On Mbappe, the Italian said at a press conference: "He's tried, he's made some really good combinations. Sooner or later he's going to score, no doubt about it."

  Asked about Vinicius' hat-trick, he added: "For us, he is the one who makes the difference. The Ballon d'Or is a small detail, it has not affected him from what we saw today."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There was a huge sense of excitement and expectation when Mbappe finally swapped Paris Saint-Germain for Madrid this summer but the 25-year-old hasn't quite lived up to the hype so far. Eight goals in 15 games is not a bad return but as he is one of the best players in the world, many want more from the France international – who is in a reported dispute with national team boss Didier Deschamps.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  When the international break finishes, Mbappe will get a chance to end his drought – which stretches back several weeks – when Madrid travel to Leganes on November 24.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News