Too risky a game? If, in the past, many observers of Paris Saint-Germain have pointed out a certain laxity of Parisian coaches towards the stars of the locker room, the posture of Luis Enrique, who arrived this summer on the Ile-de-France bench, precedes a very different analysis. Sure of his ideas and ready to defend them at all costs in front of the press, the 53-year-old Spanish technician does not seem, moreover, to be afraid of the significant weight occupied by certain Parisian executives. Symbol of this notorious firmness? The choices assumed and the often decided speech made by the former coach of La Roja about Kylian Mbappé. While the relationship between the two men has until now proven to be fluid – more than complicit – the recent episodes observed could well mark a turning point as decisive as it is distressing for the capital club.
Luis Enrique has a very specific reason to play Mbappé in 9!
From the daring comments of Luis Enrique, not completely satisfied with his protégé despite a hat-trick scored a few minutes earlier against Reims, to the sulks displayed by the French international at Signal Iduna Park, including this number 9 position, often advanced as the he explanatory element of the Frenchman’s current moods, the unease between the former Barca coach and the ex-AS Monaco nugget is increasingly palpable. Sunday evening, at the end of the 16th day of Ligue 1 and despite a new goal scored in the championship – his 16th of the season – Mbappé, generally off topic for the rest, refused to celebrate. An expressed uneasiness quickly giving rise to a multitude of questions… Was he still bitter about these last minutes in Dortmund and this decision by Luis Enrique to preserve the draw and second place in Group F? Was he frustrated by this “new” role of number 9 that his coach has entrusted to him for four matches or did the 2018 world champion simply want to show his annoyance after his poor performance against the Mastiffs?
If the answer is, perhaps, a mixture of several factors, Luis Enrique, questioned about the non-celebration of his star, preferred to stay the course. “You’ll have to ask him. I celebrated the goal”launched the Parisian technician before reminding the journalists present that KM7 had total freedom on the attack front. “Kylian plays where he decides. He has complete freedom to play inside, more on the side. If he is further outside, it is up to us to balance our positions. The difference is who will follow Kylian, an outside or inside attacker? It depends on the match.. If PSG has since inherited Real Sociedad for the knockout stages of the Champions League – a rather very favorable draw which can only validate the choice of wisdom made by Luis Enrique on German soil – these emerging tensions between the two men are currently shaking up the daily lives of the reigning French champions.
PSG is not worried about the Frenchman’s future!
Thus and according to the latest information from The Team, the current behavior of Kylian Mbappé is at the center of attention in the City of Lights. According to the daily, if this decision to move the 24-year-old Tricolore into a number 9 role is justified by Luis Enrique’s desire to maintain, as much as possible, this defensive balance, some internally believe that the positioning of the French star at the forefront of the attack will not stretch beyond the winter break. The French newspaper specifies, in this respect, that the 1m78 right-hander could be reinstalled in his preferred position (2nd striker in a 4-4-2 or on the left of a 4-3-3) from January . It now remains to be seen whether these recent episodes can have a direct consequence on the future of the Parisian number 7…
At a time when the top scorer in the French championship, free to discuss with the club he wishes in a few days, has still not made his decision, these disagreements between the former Monegasque and the Spanish coach necessarily concern the Parisian leaders. However, The Team affirms with this in mind that the capital club maintains a certain serenity on this subject. We emphasize internally that “the striker – due to his assertive character – has always had winding relationships with his various coaches and there is therefore no specific problem with Luis Enrique”. Therefore, PSG is not particularly worried and continues to hope to see Mbappé extended by next summer. Despite the interest shown by Real Madrid, Liverpool and even Saudi Arabia, the current leader of Ligue 1, who believes that the ball is in the player’s court, therefore maintains his calm, while preparing a project with his star, and another without her…
