Former Real Madrid Coach Blasts Those Who Doubted Mbappe And Ancelotti

Former Real Madrid head coach Fabio Capello blasted those who doubted Kylian Mbappe would be a success at the Bernabeu, while also calling Carlo Ancelotti the “best manager in the world”.

After ditching President Florentino Perez at the altar in 2017 and 2022, Mbappe finally completed a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

Adapting to a new role as a central number 9, the Frenchman later admitted that he hit “rock bottom” at one point after missing a penalty against Athletic Club in Bilbao.

Since then, however, he has turned things around and hit top form, with Capello mocking those who doubted the scorer of a hat trick in the 2022 World Cup final.

“He’s a great player. It has taken him three months to understand what Madrid is. Many people have criticised him, but they have not understood anything and have said nonsense, and now you can see that he is an extraordinary player and of a very high level,” the Italian stated.

One of the main figures responsible for Mbappe’s reversal in fortunes is of course Ancelotti, who Capelo called “the best coach in the world because he knows how to manage the team”.

“He knows football, he knows how to put the players on the pitch and he sacrifices. He has helped Kylian Mbappe a lot and it is to his merit. The most important thing about the coach is to understand what you have, and to know where you want to go. And if you don’t understand it, it’s a failure and Ancelotti understands it perfectly.”

Capello’s remarks were made on the eve of a mouthwatering Champions League last 16 tie between Madrid and its crosstown foe Atletico.

“It’s going to be difficult for both of them, as always,” Capello predicted. “A derby is a different game. I think that Madrid’s habit in these games helps them and their players have a different quality, but El Cholo [Diego Simeone]

prepares the games very well and it will be difficult for Madrid to win this match.”

Winning the Spanish top flight twice in 1997 and 2007 as Madrid’s manager, Capello also backs his former employers to scoop back-to-back La Liga crowns come may.

“The league is in a very interesting moment, both for football and for the fans, and every game counts. I, personally, think Madrid are going to win it,” he said.

Once more, Capello played down comparisons between FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.

“Lamine is doing very great things. When he started playing for Barcelona he was called the new Messi but he doesn’t get there because he doesn’t have Messi’s genius,” remarked Capello, though he did call the teenager “a top player”.