'We're starting to understand what he wants' - Kylian Mbappe 'trying to help' Xabi Alonso make debut Real Madrid season a success and compares new coach to Carlo Ancelotti

Madrid missed out on La Liga title and also the Champions League accolade last season and endured humiliating defeats against Barcelona, resulting in manager Ancelotti's exit and the appointment of Alonso. The Spanish coach created shockwaves in Europe after his scintillating stint at Bayer Leverkusen and is off to a solid start with Madrid sitting top of La Liga. Mbappe, in fine form himself, feels he and his team-mates are growing accustomed to the ex-midfielder's demands.

Asked to compare Alonso to previous boss Ancelotti, Mbappe told Movistar+: "They're different, two generations of coaches who have crossed paths. Ancelotti is one of the best in history. When you arrive, you're happy to play for him; he's always close to the players. Xabi wants to help a lot, but he's younger. He has more need and desire to prove himself with Real Madrid, to achieve things in his first big opportunity at the best club in the world. We're going to try to help him win as many titles as possible.

"It's an important year for Real Madrid and the national team. We're starting to understand what the manager wants from us, but we have to improve to get where we want to be."

Mbappe is off to a fine start under the new coach, scoring nine goals and registering two assists in La Liga to help his side go two points clear at the top of the table. He's doing even better in the Champions League, though, having struck five times across two matches against Marseille and Kairat Almaty.

Mbappe and Alonso's Real will be put to the test over the next few rounds of matches this month. At first, they will face Getafe on October 19. Three days later, they will take on Juventus in a continental showdown. And on October 26, they will meet Barca for the first El Clasico of the season.