Emmanuel Petit, ex-international tricolor (63 selections, 6 goals), world champion in 1998 and European champion in 2000 with the French team, answered several questions on the 2025-2026 season in the columns of the newspaper AS. Asked about the situation of Kylian Mbappé, who saw PSG win the Champions League for the first time in its history last year, the former Arsenal player nuanced the responsibility of the French crack in the bad season of the Madrilene club, but ensures that the pressure will be even stronger. “Last season, everyone at PSG (management, supporters) said that, since its departure, the club has finally had a real team, with a soul. All the players played for each other, and there were no more selfish footballers on the field. And recently, it seems that the decision to close the door to Kylian Mbappé was the right one, especially since he himself wanted to join Madrid. I do not want to fall into ease, because despite the problems of Real Madrid last season, I think Mbappé has achieved a good campaign. He scored a lot of goals. But, unfortunately, key players have missed. Too many injuries, especially in the midfield. When you lose Kroos, that Modrić is no longer the same player, and that in addition you lose defenders, everything becomes more complicated. To this were added ego clashes between Rodrygo, Vinicius, Bellingham and Mbappé, which did not help. In many ways, it was a transitional season for Real. Suddenly, all the attention was paid to Mbappé. People have chosen the easy solution: to say that the problems of Real came from him: “If we did not have a great season, it is because Kylian left PSG, and the PSG won the Champions League.” The truth may be between the two ”he said, before announcing the color for this new exercise.
“But today, the pressure on him is even stronger than last season. It should not be forgotten that when he left PSG, he went through a complicated period outside the field. He was in legal conflict with the club for financial issues; He was accused in several extra-sporting cases. He had a lot in mind. This is why this season will be very important for him. He knows that he must do better than last year. He came to Madrid with a goal: to win the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or. And it was PSG that won it in its place. The expectations are immense, and in addition, it is the season preceding the World Cup. The pressure will be enormous, both in Real Madrid and in France team. ” Author of three goals in the first two Liga games, Mbappé is present at the moment.
