Ancelotti and Benz explain what they expect from Mbappe
Robin Bairner
- 14 Feb 2022 19:22 GMT
- 3 min read
Real Madrid’s Champions League last-16 encounter against Paris Saint-Germain throws them up against Kylian Mbappe, a player who is expected to be theirs next season.
With Mbappe out of contract at PSG at the end of June, the expectation is that he will leave the Parc des Princes side to sign a deal with boyhood favourites Madrid.
Of course, no agreement has been made public of yet – and even if there is a deal in place, it is unlikely that Mbappe will announce it until the end of the season.
Nevertheless, this saga has provided an additional undertone to what would have been a blockbuster Champions League encounter in any case.
Carlo Ancelotti certainly does not expect Mbappe to take it easy against his likely future club.
“The expectation on him is very great,” Ancelotti, who was voted as PSG’s greatest ever head coach, explained. “Kylian, like the others, will be 100% focused to eliminate a rival who aims to win the Champions League.
“What Mbappe thinks is the same as what Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior or Lionel Messi think. We all have the same idea.”
Benzema says Mbappe will not kick him out of Madrid
Meanwhile, prolific Real Madrid attacker Benzema has a rather unique relationship with Mbappe given that they have struck up a fine partnership for the France national team.
“Facing Kylian will be special,” he admitted. “He’s one of my team-mates with the France squad and as well all know, he could arrive in Madrid. The important thing is to win this game. Friendship can come after it.
“I hope he has a good match, that he plays as he knows how to because he is a great player.”
I feel good at Madrid, the best club in the world
- Karim BenzemaBenzema dismissed any talk over his own future ahead of Mbappe’s pending arrival.
“At the moment, I’m completed focused on what I’m doing in Madrid. It's premature to talk about that. I feel good at Madrid, the best club in the world,” he said.
Benzema is expected to start Tuesday encounter against PSG, having missed Real Madrid’s last three games due to injury.
