The events of the days following the announcement of Kylian Mbappé’s departure raise fears of a difficult end to the season for the Bondynois with Paris Saint-Germain.
This is the first post-announcement shock. It has now been almost two weeks since Kylian Mbappé warned Paris Saint-Germain that he was going to leave the club at the end of the season, and the Bondynois’ status immediately changed, along with his playing time.
Seeing Mbappé replacing in Nantes was already enough to call out, even if we could then think that Luis Enrique simply wanted to give his attacker a little breathing room. But on Sunday, the 2018 world champion came off on the hour mark against Rennes, while PSG was trailing, and even though he was not injured. The kind of scenario that one would have considered unthinkable, in normal times.
Mbappé is no longer essential
So that’s what’s new for Mbappé at PSG: he is no longer untouchable. “Before or later, sooner or later, we will have to get used to playing without Kylian”, justified Luis Enrique at a press conference. A little earlier, on Prime Video, the Spanish coach was questioned about how Mbappé reacted to his replacement. Luis Enrique’s pout said it all: he doesn’t know, and it doesn’t matter to him. He’s the boss.
Now that Mbappé no longer represents the future of PSG, Luis Enrique no longer has to fear getting angry with his player. From now on, it remains to be seen to what extent this change in plate tectonics will influence the end of the season for the capital club. PSG cannot do without Mbappé completely, that would be shooting themselves in the foot, especially in the Champions League. But it will not only go through him.
