Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti warned new signing Kylian Mbappe that he will have to adapt to his team during an interview with UEFAiShares.
Mbappe joined Los Blancos on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last month, and though he hasn’t formed part of the ongoing preseason tour of the United States, the Frenchman is expected to start training under the Italian later this week alongside other first team stars that went far in the Euros or Copa America such as Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, and Fede Valverde.
Talking to UEFA ahead of its Super Cup final between Champions League winners Real Madrid and Europa League victors Atalanta eight days from now, Ancelotti said that “first of all, he is going to bring his quality as well as his composure, attitude and dedication” when probed on Mbappe.
At the same time, however, with doubts about Mbappe’s position and how he will fit into a talent-packed locker room abound, Ancelotti warned that the Ballon d’Or hopeful “is going to have to adapt for this team as everyone has had to”.
“We are very happy he is here because he has great qualities and – I’m sure, given his personality – he will adjust quickly.
“Everybody at Real Madrid is very happy he is here: the fans, the club, the players, the teammates, the coach. We are all very happy he is here. We’re sure he’ll do very well,” Ancelotti stressed.
As for the showdown with Atalanta, who stunned a previously unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League decider, Ancelotti predicted that “it’s going to be tough as always because it’s the beginning of the season”.
“But we are going there with every confidence and conviction, while bearing in mind all the challenges,” he vowed.
“I believe Atalanta deserve to be there because they played an amazing Europa League campaign, knocking out top teams like Liverpool. They were able to win those kinds of games easily, even the final. So, we respect this team a lot. But we hope to be on our best form.
“I don’t think anyone expected [Atalanta to beat Leverkusen so comfortably in the Europa League final]. As I said, Atalanta had an amazing season.
“They’re a very dangerous team that plays in a special and unique way. Bayer Leverkusen weren’t able to play in the way they were used to playing, because of the huge effort the Atalanta players put in,” Ancelotti concluded.
