Kylian Mbappe will find it hard to reach Cristiano Ronaldo’s level at Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti has warned despite him finding his feet in Spain.
Mbappe scored a hat-trick in Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday night, sealing the club’s spot in the last-16.
By putting Pep Guardiola’s side to the sword at the Bernabeu, the in-form forward took his tally to an impressive 28 goals across all competitions this season.
He made the early breakthrough in the second leg of the knockout tie after netting an audacious lob, before he scored twice more on either side of half-time.
Ronaldo is Madrid’s all-time top scorer, having bagged 451 goals in just 438 games, and Ancelotti believes Mbappe must continue to work if he is to match his heroics.
‘He has the quality to reach his numbers, but he has to work, because Cristiano set the bar very high, but he is so excited to play here, he can reach Cristiano’s level,’ Ancelotti told reporters during his post-match press conference.
Kylian Mbappe has been warned he may not match Cristiano Ronaldo’s levels at Real Madrid
Ancelotti told Mbappe to continue working hard after his hat-trick against Manchester City
Ronaldo scored 451 goals in just 438 games to cement his status as a Madrid legend
‘Everyone was waiting for this hat trick from him and it has finally arrived. But Mbappe is not the only one, we have many players who make a difference.Â
‘And they make a difference with their collective work above their individual quality which is remarkable.’Â
Mbappe has scored six goals in his last four appearances and believes his bedding-in process with Los Blancos has finally come to an end, having netted just three times in his first 11 matches between early October and December.
‘The adaptation period for me has ended, and now I have to show my quality,’ Mbappe said. ‘I want to play well here, I want to make a mark on the season.
‘We wanted to win. We wanted to qualify for the next round. For us, it was only logical that Real reached the next round of the Champions League.’
Mbappe netted 256 goals in his 308 appearances during his six-year stay at PSG but said he did not care about being the leading scorer if it did not result in trophies.Â
‘I was the Champions League’s top scorer last year, but did I win it? No,’ Mbappe said.
‘I don’t care about being the leading scorer, in my career, I have scored many goals.Â
‘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.’
