Mbappe set for Madrid return in Intercontinental Cup

Kylian Mbappe is set to return to action when Real Madrid face Pachuca in Wednesday’s Intercontinental Cup final, with Carlo Ancelotti insisting the forward will play barring any late fitness setbacks.

Mbappe limped out of Madrid’s 3-2 Champions League win at Atalanta last week and subsequently sat out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga on Saturday.

The France forward has had a mixed start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu, scoring 12 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions but attracting criticism from some quarters.

With Mbappe’s goals coming from a total expected goals (xG) figure of 16.25, only one player from Europe’s top five leagues has underperformed their underlying figures by a greater margin – Monaco’s Breel Embolo (three goals from 7.7 xG).

Furthermore, with Vinicius Junior playing in Mbappe’s preferred left-wing role, some fans have questioned whether his presence ruins the balance of Madrid’s lineup.

Madrid boss Ancelotti, though, is excited to have Mbappe available for Wednesday’s showpiece game in Qatar, should he avoid any last-minute setbacks.

“It’s simple – yesterday he trained well, with good feelings,” Ancelotti said in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference. “He did sprints and everything went well.

“Today’s training session is important, where we will evaluate the sensations and the risk. If he’s fine, talking to the doctors, he’ll play.

“If there is even a minimal risk, obviously he won’t. But the sensations yesterday were very good. We are optimistic.”

Ancelotti could make club history on Wednesday, as he goes in search of his 15th major trophy across two spells with Los Blancos.

That would take him clear of Miguel Munoz as the most successful coach in Madrid’s history outright, and he is not underestimating the significance of that achievement.

“It’s something important, of course, to achieve this success. It’s a symptom of having done a good job, that I’ve done a good job… at least I think I’ve done it!” he said.

“But I want to continue. It is an honour to be compared to Miguel Munoz and the rest of the coaches who have been lucky enough to lead the biggest club in the world.

“We are very excited. If we are here, it is because we have done very well. It’s a gift for us and Pachuca, who have already come through two qualifiers. We will try to win and take the cup to Madrid despite the difficulties.”

Things have not been entirely smooth for Ancelotti and Madrid this term, however. In October, they were crushed 4-0 by Barcelona in El Clasico, while they slipped to third in LaLiga last weekend and are languishing in 20th in the Champions League standings.

Ancelotti was asked if there was any indication that the players were no longer playing for him, amid rumours linking Xabi Alonso with his job.

The Italian gave that idea short shrift, saying: “I haven’t lost it, of course not. In football you go through difficult moments, it has always happened.

“Sometimes they arrive in October and November and sometimes in April and May. The important thing is to be there, to continue.

“If it happens in October or November, you can still rescue it and we are doing that. I’m sure we’ll be very competitive in the second part of the season. I can assure you that I have not lost control.”