Carlo Ancelotti has defended Kylian Mbappé's form after the star forward disappointed in Real Madrid's 2-1 Champions League win over Atlético Madrid in midweek, saying the France captain's form will waver over the course of a season.

Mbappé was quiet in Tuesday's round of 16 first leg at the Bernabéu having scored four goals in two games against Manchester City in the previous round.

He has scored 28 goals in all competitions for Madrid this season, but failed to find the net in the team's last three games, against Atlético, Real Betis and Girona.

"So bad? No," Ancelotti said, when asked if criticism of Mbappé's performance against Atlético was justified.

"What we see is that he didn't do against Atlético what he did against City. Against City he scored three, and against Atlético he didn't. Generally he's doing very well. We're very happy with him.

"He can't always be at his best. Against Atlético he wasn't, but in such a demanding season, that's normal, above all in players of quality. Quality players have more ups and downs. It's something genetic.

"For players with great quality, it's harder to be consistent. But he's doing well. If we're in the last 16 of the Champions League, it's a lot down to him."

Madrid are still competing for three major trophies. They're three points off the top of the LaLiga table -- trailing Barcelona and Atlético -- and in the Champions League round of 16, and play the second leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal against Real Sociedad next month.

However, their 2-1 defeat at Betis on March 1 was a blow, allowing Barca and Atlético to take the advantage in the title race.

"I was disappointed," Ancelotti said. "I thought the team was in good form, I didn't expect that dip. But it was isolated ... I think that in such a demanding season there's a lot of wear and tear. You can't always be at 100%."

Madrid host Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga on Sunday, before visiting Atlético's Metropolitano for the Champons League round of 16 second leg, and then visit Villarreal in the league.

"We're close," Ancelotti said. "We aren't in an ideal situation, but we're close to a Copa del Rey final, close to the leaders in LaLiga, and close to the Champions League quarterfinals."

Ancelotti also confirmed that midfielder and stand-in right-back Fede Valverde is "fine" and "available" to play against Rayo, having "only just made it" to start against Atlético on Tuesday.

Source:
courtesy of ESPN

by Alex Kirkland & Rodrigo Faez

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