As Madrid’s form dips, Carlo Ancelotti has admitted to a significant defeat—not in the sense of lost matches but in the tactical approach he initially insisted on. Since Kylian Mbappe’s high-profile arrival at Real Madrid last summer,

Real Madrid is out of sorts, and the Frenchman is part of that. As such, the glare falls on him. He’s the story, a dialed-down, diluted version of the soccer phenom he was upon arrival in Spain. A dizzied surfer unable to ride the waves he once could.

Kylian Mbappé’s start at Real Madrid has been challenging since his free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain this past summer. The 25-year-old has faced a series of setbacks, and his struggles