Cristiano Ronaldo still great – Mbappe on Real Madrid ace

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is not on the decline, according to Kylian Mbappe. 

The Portuguese forward has struggled slightly this season, scoring just eight goals in 17 games in La Liga, which has hampered Real Madrid’s attempt to retain their league title.

It means the Santiago Bernabeu club are 19 points behind rivals Barcelona in the Spanish top flight. They even dropped points against lowly Levante at the weekend.

Mbappe and his PSG team-mates take on Ronaldo and Real Madrid in the Champions League

But Ronaldo’s form in Europe has been better, scoring nine in six games, and ahead of facing Real, Mbappe has warned his PSG team-mates not to underestimate the 33-year-old. 

‘Ronaldo is not on the decline. If he is on the decline, there are many more players on the decline then,’ he said after PSG beat Sochaux on Tuesday evening, as reported by Goal.

‘He is a great player. But we hope he will remain quiet against us.

‘We will prepare for the game by paying attention to all their strengths. And he is one of their strengths in the team.’

Mbappe is hopeful Angel Di Maria has earned a place in PSG’s team for that encounter

The France international is confident a former Real star could turn out to be a difference maker in the Champions League encounter.

Angel Di Maria scored a hat-trick against Sochaux and Mbappe is hopeful that he will be given a place in the starting line-up by manager Unai Emery.  

‘We all know very well how important Di Maria is to us,’ he said. ‘When he is like that, it’s good for the whole team and it allows us to win a few games in a row.

‘Yes, he deserves to start against Real Madrid, but I’m not the coach.’