Carlo Ancelotti has no concerns over Kylian Mbappe's start to life at Real Madrid, having failed to score in his first two LaLiga fixtures.
Mbappe, who joined the club from Paris Saint-Germain in June, has failed to kick on from his debut goal against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup two weeks ago.
It would be Los Blancos' other summer arrival, Endrick, who stole the show in their last league fixture, scoring on his Bernabeu debut against Real Valladolid.
During that encounter, Mbappe contributed an expected goals (xG) of 0.99 to Madrid's 2.14 total from his three shots on target.
The Frenchman also recorded the joint-most touches in the opposition box (eight, along with Arda Guler) as well as completing four of his five attempted dribbles.
However, Ancelotti insisted he was not worried by Mbappe's recent run in front of goal, pointing out his last goal for the club came just two weeks ago.
"His last goal was on August 14th. It has only been two weeks since, that is no reason to worry. Neither we are not worried as a club, nor him," Ancelotti said.
"He is very happy here, delighted, sure he wants to score in the next game. So does Vinicius, who has yet to score this season, and I don't see him worried either.
"(Mbappe) is progressing really well, I see him doing better every day, excited, motivated, training well. He is very humble. I think his adaptation is going really well."
Ancelotti is still seeking the answer to a midfield that brought him so much success in recent years following Toni Kroos' retirement at the end of Euro 2024.
The Madrid head coach is also trying to fit Mbappe into a new central striker role, while also aiming to keep his star-studded attack happy with their game time.
"Every year has its own challenge because there are changes in the structure of a team, the system that is implemented," Ancelotti said.
"Last year we also needed time at the start of the season, we needed a late goal to get a result in many games.
"It will take some time until we find our mojo and the best version of ourselves but it's a normal thing.
"I didn't ask Toni Kroos to be Aurelien Tchouameni last year, just as I won't ask Tchouameni to be Kroos. Each player has his own characteristics.
"The team has to adapt to the characteristics that Tchouameni has, which are very important for us."
Mbappe will be looking to break his scoring duck away to Las Palmas on Thursday night as Madrid look to keep pace with rivals Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Cuba overturn deficit in 5-2 aggregate Play-In win over St Kitts and Nevis to book Gold Cup prelims spot
Cuba booked their spot in the Concacaf Gold Cup prelims after they turned the tables on St Kitts and Nevis in their Concacaf Nations League Play-In tie on Monday.
Needing to overturn a deficit from their 1-2 first-leg loss, Cuba did just that in commanding fashion as they blanked St Kitts and Nevis 4-0 in a lopsided return-leg encounter at Estadio Antonio Maceo in Santiago de Cuba.
After bossing possession for most of the first half, Cuba inevitably broke the deadlock when Onel Hernandez produced a decent solo run on his way to driving home a right-footer from the top of the penalty area to level the series on aggregate at that point.
But the hosts were far from done and doubled the lead on the stroke of the break as Yosel Piedra also converted from close range in the 45+3 to make it 2-0 at the break and 3-2 on aggregate.
With St Kitts and Nevis offering very little resistance on the resumption, Cuba extended their lead in the 50th courtesy of Luis Paradela’s close-range finish.
Maykel Reyes then converted an 87th-minute penalty to cap the win as Cuba continued their march towards making the cut for next year’s Concacaf Gold Cup. A win in the preliminary rounds would see them achieving that feat.
Curacao secure League A promotion, Gold Cup berth after 4-1 win over St Lucia in Group B
Curacao secured promotion to League A and direct qualification for next year’s Concacaf Gold Cup after they topped Group B of League B in the Concacaf Nations League action on Monday.
The Dutch-speaking Caribbean Island bettered St Lucia 4-1 in their top-of-the-table clash at the Ergilio Hato Stadium in Willemstad, Curaçao.
Gervane Kastaneer opened the scoring in the 27th with a tidy finish on the volley as he connected well from Jearl Margaritha’s weighted cross.
St Lucia pulled level in the 29th courtesy of Ryan Charles, who won possession at the top of the penalty area and finished at close range.
However, Kastaneer grabbed his brace to put Curacao back on top as he produced another decent close range finish to make it 2-1 at the break.
Any hopes St Lucia had of a comeback were dashed in the 73rd when Juninho Bacuna displayed nippy footwork to dismiss markers and slot home.
Bacuna then completed his brace and Curacao’s rout when he fired home in the 79th to secure their promotion to League A and, by extension, a berth in the Gold Cup.
They topped the group with 13 points, four more than St Lucia (nine points), while Grenada, who were 3-0 winners over St Martin in the other group contest, ended on seven points.
Rahim Dennis (39th) and Keelan Lebon (87th and 90+3) sealed Grenada’s win against St Martin to ensure they stay up in League B for another edition.
By virtue of that loss, St Martin, who finished last on the four-team standings on six points, have been relegated to League C for the next edition of the Nations League.
Hemp ruled out of England squad after knee surgery
Lauren Hemp has been ruled out of England's upcoming friendlies after Manchester City confirmed the forward had surgery on a knee injury.
Hemp has missed City's last two matches, including their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Women's Super League on Saturday.
Sarina Wiegman confirmed the surgery was not related to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and the club have also not confirmed how long she will be out.
The 24-year-old recently became the youngest player in WSL history to reach 50 goals and also leads the way for assists (five) and chances created (26) in the competition this season.
Overall this term, she has scored two goals and registered seven assists in all competitions, including setting up three goals in City's 4-0 win over Tottenham, her last appearance.
Manchester United's Ella Toone is also unavailable to Wiegman this international break due to a calf injury.
Her absence in their victory over Leicester City on Sunday ended a run of 96 consecutive league starts.
Niamh Charles, Lauren James and Lucy Parker are also out through injury, with the Chelsea pair having failed to recover from problems that kept them out of the previous international break.
It means there are first international call-ups for Laura Blindkilde Brown and Ruby Mace, while Gabby George is named for the first time since November 2022.
England take on the United States at Wembley on November 30 in the first of their two friendlies, before facing Switzerland three days later.
England squad in full:
Mary Earps (Paris Saint-Germain), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), Mille Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham), Gabby George (Manchester United), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Millie Turner (Manchester United), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Grace Clinton (Manchester United), Fran Kirby (Brighton), Jess Park (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Ruby Mace (Leicester City), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Jess Naz (Tottenham), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
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