Florentino Pérez's approach leaves no room for doubt. If last year Real Madrid strolled through LaLiga and the Champions League, with Mbappé, Ancelotti's team must dominate.
However, the results have not been as expected. At least so far. Real Madrid has not managed to improve their play or their results with Mbappé.
What was not expected is that Barcelona would become cocky both in Spain and in Europe. For Florentino Pérez, it would be a tremendous blow not to win LaLiga or the Champions League with the top-tier reinforcement of Mbappé.
The Differences From One Year to Another, Without Mbappé and With Mbappé
But the results are what they are. Last season at this time, Real Madrid, without Mbappé, topped the table with 72 points, eight ahead of Barcelona. And they had scored 64 goals.
In the same matchday 29 of this season, Real Madrid has 63 points, which is 9 points less than last year. Barça is first, and the white team has scored, with Mbappé, 2 fewer goals than last season.
To top it off, Barça, at this point, has 82 goals. Meanwhile, the four magnificent (Mbappé, Vinícius, Rodrygo, and Bellingham) remain at 62 goals, 20 less than Barça.
It won't be because penalties don't help the whites. Real Madrid has taken 11 penalties compared to Barcelona's 6.
It is clear that the signing of the "best player in the world," far from strengthening Real Madrid, has weakened it. Vinícius's prominence has decreased, and Mbappé, despite his goals, has not managed to match what the Brazilian did last season.
The Best in the World Against Barça's "Kids"
The Negreira resource remains to justify everything, but not even that anymore. The referees clearly lean in favor of Real Madrid since Florentino Pérez made his controversial statement public. But Real Madrid manages to keep up with Barça.
In fact, the white team, at this point, no longer depends on itself to be champion (unless they win the Montjuïc classic 0-5). And the play displayed by Flick's men has nothing to do with the dull soccer that characterizes Ancelotti's Real Madrid.
Real Madrid plays with the best in the world, according to the white propaganda. Barça relies on their "kids" due to the impossibility of signing and registering. And the results are what they are.