MADRID: Kylian Mbappe said he had bounced back from hitting rock bottom after helping Real Madrid thrash Sevilla 4-2 on Saturday to move second in La Liga above stuttering rivals Barcelona.
After Atletico Madrid beat Barca on Saturday to claim top spot at Christmas, Carlo Ancelotti鈥檚 side also took advantage with a comfortable home win which leaves them a point behind the leaders.
Madrid coach Ancelotti said ahead of Sevilla鈥檚 visit that Mbappe鈥檚 adaptation period had ended following his summer switch from Paris Saint-Germain and the French forward proved the coach right with a strong performance and his 14th goal of the season across all competitions.
Fede Valverde also netted a brilliant effort from range, with Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Diaz on the scoresheet for the hosts too, the latter assisted by a clever Mbappe pass.
Isaac Romero and Dodi Lukebakio scored for Sevilla, although they were thoroughly outplayed on veteran defender Jesus Navas鈥 final game for the club.
鈥淚 think that we know each other better, my arrival changed a lot of things, and now, as the coach said, the adaptation is over and I feel very good in the team,鈥 Mbappe told Real Madrid TV.
鈥淲e can see on the pitch that I click better with my team-mates and now we鈥檙e all playing better.鈥
Mbappe, back after a brief absence with a thigh injury, scored for Madrid in midweek as they won the Intercontinental Cup.
It was welcome relief for the forward after missing two penalties in recent weeks against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao, as well as suffering criticism for his form.
鈥淚 know I鈥檝e got much more in my legs than I鈥檓 showing, but in the last games I鈥檝e played better,鈥 Mbappe added.
鈥淭he Bilbao game was good for me, I hit the bottom, I missed a penalty and it was a moment to realize that I have to give everything for this shirt and show my personality.鈥
With Vinicius Junior suspended, Mbappe took the reins and broke the deadlock in the 10th minute as Madrid brought the ball out from the back and worked it to Rodrygo on the left flank.
The Brazilian squared to Mbappe on the edge of the area, who took one touch to control, another to set himself and with his third, smashed a fierce effort past the helpless Alvaro Fernandez.
鈥淚 think (Mbappe) has been self-critical, he鈥檚 come out of a situation that could have been complicated for him,鈥 Ancelotti told reporters.
鈥淵esterday I said his adaptation period was over, today he showed it, sometimes I鈥檓 not wrong.鈥
The coach said Madrid had found their footing after struggling at times in the first half of the season.
鈥淲e鈥檙e running a bit more, playing with more intensity, we鈥檙e doing things well again, as we have to do 鈥 they鈥檝e been complicated months,鈥 Ancelotti added.
Madrid鈥檚 second, 10 minutes later, was even better, with Valverde firing a screamer into the top corner from over 30 yards out after a short corner.
Ancelotti鈥檚 side were in full flow and the third followed in the 34th minute when Lucas Vazquez crossed for Rodrygo.
Sevilla hit back within a minute, with Romero nodding home from Juanlu Sanchez鈥檚 cross.
Madrid stretched their lead after the break with Mbappe dinking a superb pass through for Diaz to finish clinically.
Sevilla brought on Navas after the hour mark and he was applauded by the Santiago Bernabeu, with this his 705th and final appearance for the club, far more than any other player.
Madrid and Sevilla players together gave the retiring Spanish great 鈥 a World Cup winner in 2010 and two-time Euros champion 鈥 a guard of honor at the start of the game.
Navas, 39, won four Europa Leagues and two Copa del Rey trophies with Sevilla, but his final appearance ended in disappointment for the Andalusians.
Lukebakio pulled one back late on for Sevilla as Madrid were able to finish an impressive year, in which they became Spanish and European champions, with positive vibes.
鈥淭oday was a spectacle, I haven鈥檛 seen anything like that in my life at an away ground, it was crazy,鈥 an emotional Navas told reporters.
鈥淚 was thinking of all the moments that I鈥檝e lived through, the joys I鈥檝e given to my Sevilla and my national team.鈥