Carlo Ancelotti joked he had a “huge problem” that “has ruined my holidays” as the Real Madrid manager grapples with how best to integrate Kylian Mbappe into his team.
Ancelotti’s European rivals won’t find the quip so funny as the France megastar joins a ridiculously stacked list of attacking options, including Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Endrick and Arda Guler.
Mbappe appears ready to make his Madrid debut in the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta on Thursday (5am AEST).
Watch the 2024 UEFA Super Cup between Real Madrid and Atalanta on Thursday, June 15 AEST, streaming ad free and live on Stan Sport
Ancelotti said the 25-year-old arrived in good shape and “could play tomorrow” and was adapting well to the team after a week of practice following Euro 2024.
Mbappe is the biggest draw in the Polish capital after finally joining Madrid following a drawn out saga with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain.
He was introduced to the club’s fans at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium last month but wasn’t part of the squad on its US tour while he rested after the Euros.
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Ancelotti joked that thinking about who might play up front “has ruined my holidays.”
The 65-year-old Italian mastermind won a record extending fifth Champions League title in June, his third with Madrid.
“He (Mbappe) has arrived very well, like everyone else,” Ancelotti said.
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“We are doing very well. He is adapting very well and everyone can play tomorrow. He has extraordinary quality. The simplest thing is to know that good players are always going to play and are always going to bring something in.
“There are no problems for us because there are so many games. I can’t think I am going to have to count on the same 11 players for 70 something games.”
Ancelotti was asked whether Mbappe’s arrival had changed the atmosphere in the locker room.
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“It is a very clean, healthy atmosphere, the kind of atmosphere created by players who have been here like (the recently departed) Nacho Fernandez, Dani Carvajal, (Luka) Modric, (Federico) Valverde. There are no princes or kings here,” he replied.
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperino wants all of Madrid’s superstars to play against his team.
“For me it is fundamental that the team plays a good game without thinking about who is there and who isn’t,” Gasperini said.
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“I hope the best play, because only with the strongest can you try to gain the maximum respect.”
The Italian team will start as the underdog, like it was before beating Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final to win the club’s first European title and first trophy in 61 years.
But Gasperini said Atalanta was not deterred.
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“We come with our usual enthusiasm, our usual eagerness to try to impress,” he said.
The Super Cup is an annual match between the winners of last season’s Champions League and the second tier Europa League.
New host Adam Peacock will lead Stan Sport’s coverage, alongside expert former Socceroos Craig Foster and Mark Bosnich.
