Samir Nasri Criticizes Ancelotti Over Mbappé’s Struggles: “It’s Up to the Coaches to Enforce Their Decisions”
Samir Nasri, the former French international and current consultant for Canal+, has voiced his opinion on the ongoing challenges Kylian Mbappé is facing at Real Madrid, particularly under the management of Carlo Ancelotti.
Mbappé, who made his highly anticipated move to Madrid this summer after years of success at PSG, has struggled to find his form at the club. Despite the high expectations surrounding his arrival, the French forward has yet to showcase the explosive performances that fans and pundits alike expected. This season, he has found it difficult to adapt to his new role at Madrid, as he has been forced to play as a central forward, a position that doesn’t seem to suit his natural abilities.
Traditionally, Mbappé has excelled on the left wing, where he can use his pace and dribbling skills to cut inside and pose a constant threat to opposition defenses. However, with Vinicius Jr. occupying that left-wing position at Real Madrid, Mbappé has been shifted to a more central attacking role. This tactical decision has left him uncomfortable, as it doesn’t allow him to fully exploit his strengths. Reports from Spanish media suggest that the 25-year-old is unhappy with his position on the pitch and the role he’s been given within Ancelotti’s system. On the field, Mbappé has been seen disengaged at times, failing to contribute with the expected intensity required from a central striker.
In light of these struggles, Nasri has been outspoken about the responsibility of the coach in ensuring that players are held accountable for their performances. He points to his own experiences with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City as an example of how a strong manager should handle such situations. According to Nasri, Guardiola was always clear about the team’s expectations and didn’t hesitate to bench players who failed to meet those standards. Nasri recalls how Guardiola once challenged the players to work harder, saying, “You are a big team, but you’re not running enough,” and emphasized the importance of team pressing. Those who didn’t adhere to his instructions found themselves sidelined, and eventually, the team as a whole improved.
Nasri’s main point is that Ancelotti has failed to enforce the same level of discipline with Mbappé. “The problem now is that no one has had the courage to put Mbappé on the bench to show him that he needs to put in the necessary effort,” Nasri explained. He believes that by doing so, Ancelotti would send a strong message to the entire team that no player is above the system, and that hard work and commitment are non-negotiable.
As the season progresses, it remains to be seen how Mbappé and Ancelotti will resolve these issues. But one thing is clear: for Mbappé to truly thrive at Real Madrid, a more harmonious balance between his role and the team’s tactical needs must be found.