Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that he has now taken an active role in deciding who will take the team’s next penalty, should they be awarded one in their upcoming clash with Arsenal.
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The Spanish giants have struggled from the spot this season, failing to convert five penalties. The most recent miss came from Vinicius Junior, whose failed attempt contributed to a draw against Valencia. ..Continue Reading
In light of these issues, Ancelotti has named Kylian Mbappe as the designated penalty taker for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal on Tuesday.
Ancelotti has faced criticism for his strategy of rotating penalty takers throughout the season. Mbappe, Vinicius, and Jude Bellingham have all missed crucial spot-kicks.
Vinicius Jr has failed to convert Real Madrid’s last two penalties—first in the Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid, and most recently in the 2-1 home loss to Valencia, where his shot was easily stopped by goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Speaking after Vinicius Jr’s latest miss, Ancelotti said: ‘It’s been a difficult season for penalty takers.
‘Bellingham missed against Valencia, Mbappe at Liverpool and San Mames, and Vini at the Metropolitano. And I’ve decided to give him my trust again.
‘We’ll see if Mbappe becomes the first-choice taker.’
As reported by Marca, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has decided to make a change ahead of their Champions League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium—Kylian Mbappe will now be the team’s primary penalty taker if they are awarded one.
The report also notes that the Madrid coaching team feels there is no standout penalty expert within the squad. If Mbappe fails to convert, Jude Bellingham is expected to take the next one.
On the other side, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has come under scrutiny for his approach to saving penalties following the team’s 1-1 draw with Everton on Saturday.
Raya dived the wrong way for Iliman Ndiaye’s successful penalty and had shown a similar pattern during the FA Cup shootout against Manchester United in January, where he repeatedly guessed incorrectly.
‘He seems to be taking this massive leap to one side, which is almost giving the penalty taker so much time to say, ‘well, he’s definitely going that way’,’ former Arsenal striker Ian Wright told Premier League Productions.
‘I’ve seen penalties being taken against him recently where he’s continually going the wrong way.
‘I think his form in trying to save them, I think it’s wrong, simply because he’s going so far, he’s making such a commitment to one side.
‘He’s giving it up, especially if you’ve got a longer run up, you can actually see him a yard away from the ball, he’s gone, he’s [Ndiaye] not kicked the ball yet and David Raya has taken two steps to his right.
‘You’re going to see that when you’re running up, you can see he’s committed to one side.
‘That’s the only thing I look at and worries me with the penalties being taken against us at the minute.’
