Kylian Mbappé’s entourage reacted to the controversial replacement of the PSG striker on Friday evening, against Monaco (0-0, 24th day of Ligue 1).
If the meeting was pleasant to follow on the pitch, the opposition between AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain which took place Friday evening at the Louis II stadium will especially be remembered for the astonishing decision of Luis Enrique to leave Kylian Mbappé in the locker room after the break. A choice which itself echoes the already early replacement of the Bondynois last week against Rennes (1-1). If the PSG coach explained that his decision was purely sporting, observers expressed doubts. The player’s entourage also reacted.
In comments reported after the match by RMCthe Mbappé clan stated the following: “ We respect the coach’s choices and Kylian is fully focused on the trip to Real Sociedad. No controversy over the fact that he is in the stands. He had showered and was in street clothes and shoes. It was a club manager who spontaneously took him to the stands within the official PSG delegation. »
Starting Tuesday?
Those close to the 2018 world champion therefore chose to calm things down as much as possible, but the external signals sent by Kylian Mbappé in front of the cameras, on the lookout for the slightest gesture, showed that he was perhaps not not so calm about his coach’s decision. The way in which he, for example, jumped a barrier at the end of the match to greet the supporters, was a way for him to show that his replacement had nothing to do with an injury and that he could have stayed on the pitch. .
At a press conference, Luis Enrique also dismissed the subject out of hand, despite the insistence of journalists. It remains to be seen whether Kylian Mbappé will be lined up starting Tuesday evening in the Champions League. If they lead 2-0 after their victory in the first leg, the Parisians will really need their offensive star to ensure a passage to the quarter-finals.
