Mbappé up for Champions League challenge: "This is what I joined PSG for"
Appearing in a Champions League final and having the chance to make history is precisely why Kylian Mbappé joined Paris Saint-Germain.
Kylian Mbappé explained that the reason why he joined Paris Saint-Germain was to make history by winning the Champions League. He will have the chance to do just that when PSG contest tomorrow's final with Bayern Munich. PSG, who defeated RB Leipzig in the last four to reach their first Champions League final – go head-to-head with Bundesliga giants Bayern in Lisbon on Sunday.
Mbappé came close three years ago
Mbappé reached the semi-finals with Monaco in 2017, before making a big-money move to PSG. The 21-year-old has looked sharp since recovering from an ankle injury and is determined to ensure PSG win the biggest club competition in Europe for the first time this weekend.
"This is exactly the reason I am here," Mbappé told a news conference on Saturday. "I always said I wanted to write the history of French football. I have another opportunity to do that tomorrow. When I arrived in 2017, PSG had difficulties, now we're in the final. It shows we never gave up and it will be an amazing thing for a French team to win the Champions League. It's why I signed. I have always dreamed of facing the best players. You want to face and beat the best. We need to play as we always do. We hope to go back to Paris with the cup. It's the biggest club competition. Obviously it's quite hard to play behind closed doors. We would have wanted the fans here but we know they will be supporting us. It's still a Champions League final. It is a very special year."
No fear for PSG
Mbappé, who says he is in a relaxed mood ahead of Sunday's showdown, also confirmed he has fully recovered from the injury he sustained in the Coupe de France final last month. "I feel even better the more days that pass. I'm good," he said. "I think the games have helped me prepare for the final. Munich are a great team but every team has flaws. We know they don't like to change the game. We look forward to playing tomorrow."
Thomas Tuchel's position as PSG's coach has been under scrutiny at times this season, but Mbappé believes the club's run to the final has validated the work of the former Borussia Dortmund boss.
"Yes, of course. Completely, the players are supporting the coach," the striker said when asked if PSG's squad were behind Tuchel. "I heard myself, and I know a lot of people were hearing things about the coach, about him not being able to manage the stars. Honestly I think he's doing the best season in the club's season. We are in the Champions League final. He really pushed us and we are in a good state of mind. There were some exceptions during the season, it can happen in every team, but we really trust him and we will play for him."