For the third time in a row in Ligue 1, Kylian Mbappé did not play a large part of the match. New episode at Louis-II last night during Monaco-PSG (0-0). Affected during the first period, the striker was replaced at the break yesterday by Randal Kolo Muani. 4 days before the Champions League round of 16 second leg against Real Sociedad, the choice to preserve it seemed coherent. Except that he was all smiles in the stands for the second half alongside his mother, Fayza Lamari, while the Spanish coach assured during the post-match that no injuries had been noted.
He even reiterated his comments after PSG-Rennes. “Sooner or later we will have to play without him. If it is linked to his future? I have to adapt the team to know how to play without him. My answer is this.” Always so laconic on Prime Videoas in a press conference a few minutes later. “Explain my management of Kylian? I am not going to enter into this game. I am a professional and what I said to your colleagues is what I will repeat until Real Sociedad. There’s no problem, it’s just handling a situation the best way, the way I think is best. Nothing else.”
In private, Mbappé and Luis Enrique reproach each other
It must be understood that Mbappé is paying for his intention to leave the club at the end of the season. Even if management expected this decision, it is a matter of saving face. Since January, when PSG learned of the future departure of the player we were revealing, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi had privately confided that no gift would be given to him. According to our information, the Parisian president had already shown the beginnings by confiding to those around him that if the French striker signed for Real Madrid “he would no longer play”, a sort of carte blanche given to Luis Enrique in the management of the world champion.
The Spaniard was also quite indifferent following Kylian Mbappé’s announcement before Real Sociedad, a match where he was also doubtful due to injury. The former La Roja coach then suggested that the possible absence of the Parisian number 7 bothered him less than that of other players like Ousmane Dembélé or Bradley Barcola. In reality, things haven’t flowed between the two men for a while. Sources at the club even claim that in private, they can no longer stand each other, without there having been any verbal or physical confrontation. These tensions have never been demonstrative. Removing Mbappé from the starting lineup or replacing him in the middle of a match is perhaps the technician’s way of displaying his authority, but the risk is great at a time when PSG is playing its season.
