Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has expressed his unwavering support for star forward Kylian Mbappe following the player’s disappointing penalty miss during the team’s 2-0 loss against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League.
In a match where tension ran high, Kylian Mbappe was presented with an opportunity to level the score at Anfield when he stepped up to take a penalty after Alexis Mac Allister had struck first for Liverpool.
Unfortunately for the French international, his attempt was a weak one, and it was expertly saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, keeping Liverpool in the lead.
In a match filled with drama, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah also faced a penalty challenge but found the back of the net elusive, blasting his shot wide of the goal. Shortly thereafter, Cody Gakpo capitalized on a corner-kick situation to extend Liverpool’s lead, solidifying their grip on the match.
In the post-match interview, Ancelotti took the opportunity to rally behind Kylian Mbappe, saying, “Mbappé has all of our support and he will soon turn the situation around. He’s an extraordinary player, and we need to be patient with him. He is adjusting well to the dynamics of the team, and we stand firmly with him during this challenging period.”
Furthermore, Ancelotti also acknowledged Liverpool as Real Madrid’s ‘most difficult’ opponent in the Champions League landscape. He made these remarks following the frustrating defeat at Anfield, highlighting the challenges that come with facing such a formidable rival.
Reflecting on the match, Ancelotti noted, “It was a difficult match, as we anticipated. Playing at Anfield is always a daunting task; it is arguably the most challenging stadium in Europe. We competed well until the penalty incident, but after that, we seemed to lose a bit of our momentum. There were moments in the match where we could have capitalized more effectively on our counter-attacks.”
Despite the outcome, the seasoned manager remained optimistic about his team’s performance, stating, “I was pleased with how we competed against such a formidable opponent. Liverpool truly deserved their win today.”
