Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes Kylian Mbappé has what it takes to reach the legendary status of Cristiano Ronaldo at the club, following the French striker's spectacular hat-trick performance in a 3-1 victory over Manchester City that secured their place in the Champions League round of 16.
Ronaldo, who holds the distinction of being Madrid's all-time leading scorer with an incredible 451 goals in 438 appearances, has set a formidable benchmark for any player joining the 15-time Champions League winners. However, Ancelotti expressed confidence in Mbappé's potential to match these remarkable numbers, while emphasizing the importance of hard work.
"He has the quality to reach his numbers, but he has to work, because Cristiano set the bar very high," Ancelotti said during a post-match news conference. "But he is so excited to play here, he can reach Cristiano's level." The Italian manager also praised the collective effort of his team, noting that while Mbappé's individual quality is remarkable, it's the team's collaborative work that makes the difference.
Mbappé, who demonstrated his prolific scoring ability at Paris Saint-Germain with 256 goals in 308 appearances over six years, maintains a humble perspective on individual achievements. "I was the Champions League's top scorer last year, but did I win it? No," he told reporters, emphasizing his priority on team success over personal accolades. "If with these goals we win titles I will sign with my blood. If I can score 50, all the better, but all I want is to win titles."
Despite the victory, Ancelotti expressed frustration at having to navigate the knockout round, attributing it to their slow start in the campaign that resulted in a lower league standing. Looking ahead, Real Madrid awaits Friday's draw to determine their next opponents, either Bayer Leverkusen or city rivals Atlético Madrid, as they pursue a record-extending 16th Champions League title.
"It's not positive at all having to go through the knock-out because we had to play 10 games to get to the last 16," Ancelotti remarked, while acknowledging the emotional boost from their recent success. "We're not coming out of a difficult period, we're entering one because this is when the real season starts. There is no way to stop, to rest."
Interestingly, Mbappé has already expressed his preference for facing Atlético Madrid in the next round, citing practical considerations: "For me it is better to play against Atlético because we don't have to travel, because we travel a lot. They would be two very difficult games but one without traveling."
