Ancelotti hails match-winner Mbappe as Madrid toil past Leganes
Kylian Mbappe stepped up as Real Madrid toiled their way past Leganes in LaLiga, leading to praise from head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Carlo Ancelotti hailed Kylian Mbappe for his match-winning double as Real Madrid won a topsy-turvy encounter with lowly Leganes 3-2 in LaLiga on Saturday.
France captain Mbappe scored the opener from the penalty spot at Santiago Bernabeu and scored the winner following Jude Bellingham's equaliser after goals from Diego Garcia and Dani Raba had put Leganes in front.
Mbappe now has 33 goals in all competitions for the club this season, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo's tally in his first term at Madrid.
And head coach Ancelotti is delighted with his contribution to Los Blancos.
"He's doing really well. Much more active, more involved in the game," Ancelotti said of the France captain.
"He has adapted well and is making the difference, which is exactly what we expect from him."
Mbappe himself was thrilled to see work on the training ground pay off against Leganes.
"It was difficult match. After the international break it's always difficult," Mbappe told RMTV.
"We know what we always have to do: win. We started well, in the opposition half, and we scored a goal. Then we didn't play well for 20 minutes and conceded two goals.
"But we know that if we play well we'll score and in the second half we scored two goals. We won the game and we're very happy.
"We worked on (the set piece) a few weeks ago with the staff. I knew I could shoot this way, I saw the space. I asked the others to let me shoot and it worked out well."
Madrid are level on points with LaLiga leaders Barcelona but Los Cules own a game in hand over their Clasico rivals.
Ancelotti is adamant that their struggles to see off Leganes, who are 18th, was not due to a lack of focus.
The Italian added: "We had the intensity. We showed it in the second half and managed to turn the game around.
"You have to suffer. I don't remember a game where we haven't suffered. What matters is suffering together. When sacrifices have to be made, we all make them.
"Football matches are like this, there is no such thing as an easy game, and we are fully aware of that."
Real host Real Sociedad in their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg on Tuesday holding a 1-0 lead before welcoming Valencia in LaLiga next Saturday and then visiting Arsenal in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.