French striker Kylian Mbappé has been back in the news at PSG in recent days. At loggerheads with new coach Luis Enrique, the Bondynois is putting his managers in an embarrassing situation, all during the final year of his contract.
PSG are once again being rocked by their star player Kylian Mbappé. A veritable icon of the Parisian team over the last few years, the 25-year-old is often known for his outspoken stances. Known for his strong personality, he does not hesitate to disagree with anyone. From managers to team-mates to coaches, Mbappé rules. While many believe that the arrival of Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain will do much to curb the whims of the stars, things are already heating up.
Unrest between Luis Enrique and Mbappé
While he has managed to get rid of undesirables such as Neymar and Verratti and build his team around Mbappé, the Catalan coach is already coming up against the French star’s mood swings. Last week, the AS Monaco-trained player publicly attacked Luis Enrique’s instructions in the Champions League in Dortmund. Furious that he did not play to the full until the final whistle to try and win the match, Mbappé sulked at the end. In a press conference after the match, the Spanish coach was quick to respond, saying that he is the man in charge of the team who gives the instructions.
In this atmosphere, the Ligue 1 match against Lille on Sunday revealed a new frustration on the part of the French striker. Less flamboyant in the match, he is reportedly not at all happy with his repositioning in the centre of the Parisian attack. Having scored from the penalty spot during the match, Kylian Mbappé did not celebrate and left the pitch with a tight expression on his face. With the sulkiness on display, it is clear that the unease is palpable at PSG.
PSG keep an eye on the situation
After the Lille game, Luis Enrique spoke of the freedom his striker has in the game. “Kylian plays where he decides. He has total freedom to play inside, or more out wide. If he’s more out wide, it’s up to us to balance our positions. The difference is who’s going to follow Kylian, an outside forward or an inside forward? It depends on the match,” said the former Barça coach. Although he does not attach too much importance to his player’s state of mind, which he contradicted with the draw of Real Sociedad (a good draw) in the Champions League, the Parisian directors remain concerned about the future of their star.
Still in the final year of his contract, Mbappé has still not signed a new lease or given any clear indication that he should continue at PSG, which is not exactly to the liking of the Qataris, who do not want to lose him. As reported in L’Équipe, the Paris staff are keeping a close eye on the friction between Luis Enrique and the 25-year-old. With the certainty that things will be fine by the time the short Christmas break or the New Year comes around, the directors remain convinced that the tension seen in recent days will not force their star to leave the club.
Managers still confident about Mbappé’s future
For the directors, Mbappé is a player of character who has already been through similar situations with the club’s previous coaches. Demanding of himself, the player expects a lot from his team. Despite the apparent crisis with Luis Enrique, who is a coach of character, the directors are keeping the faith, since according to L’Équipe, the striker continues to give 100% in training and shows no signs of tiring.
In any case, it’s clear that when Kylian Mbappé looks out of sorts, PSG are not serene. In the past, coaches have been forced to submit to avoid crises, but this time around Luis Enrique, who is a man who is not afraid to be bold, intends to enforce his ideas. It remains to be seen whether the Bondynois will continue to comply for a long time to come, or whether he will decide to leave by next June. Real Madrid are waiting for him either way.
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