Mbappe inconsistency 'normal': Real Madrid's Ancelotti

Mbappé's recent performance concerns
The striker performed poorly against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and in the previous La Liga match against Real Betis, just days after scoring a hat-trick against Manchester City. Mbappé struggled in his initial months at Madrid after joining last summer from Paris Saint-Germain but had recently shown improvement. However, his recent performances have raised concerns among fans.

Ancelotti's assessment
"What we saw is that against Atletico he did not do what he did against City," Ancelotti stated at a press conference ahead of Rayo Vallecano's visit in La Liga on Sunday. "Against City he scored three, and against Atletico he did not score. I think on a general level he is doing very well and we're very happy with him."

Champions league context
Real Madrid beat their city rivals 2-1 in the first leg of the last 16 tie, with the return match set for Wednesday at the Metropolitano Stadium. In the play-off round against Premier League champions City, Mbappé netted four goals over the two legs as Madrid won 6-3 on aggregate.

Inconsistency in a demanding season
Ancelotti noted, "In such a demanding season, inconsistency is quite normal, especially in a player with such quality." He emphasized that players with exceptional talent often experience more ups and downs. Despite concerns, Ancelotti affirmed that Mbappé is still performing well.

La Liga standings and upcoming matches
Madrid currently sits third in La Liga, three points behind leaders Barcelona, who face Osasuna on Saturday. There are reports that center-back Antonio Rudiger may miss the Rayo clash due to illness. Ancelotti expressed confidence, stating, "We're ready to fight in all games and in all competitions." He also mentioned that the defeat by Betis was due to the team's limited preparation time, adding, "I'm much calmer ahead of the game tomorrow because we've had five days of rest."