Luis Enrique: “Mbappé hasn’t said where he is going… but I think it’s clear”

Less than 24 hours after after Kylian Mbappé confirmed that will be leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, coach Luis Enrique faced the media at the team’s training ground in Poissy. Sunday’s home game against Toulouse will be the team’s final home game of the season and the captain’s farewell to Paris, and unsurprisingly, but much of the focus of the Asturian coach’s press conference was on that.

Mbappé leaving: “This is a sport, football - one which complex enough that teams that do not have the best players usually don’t win titles. It is a team sport. We can coldly analyze which teams win the most title and which ones don’t. It’s something we’ve all known for a long time. It doesn’t change the panorama. It’s still the same. All my decisions were to build the best team. And I think that all parties have behaved in the best way. There is still one title left, the French Cup final. That is our objective - to continue competing and winning trophies. I am convinced that, regardless of the players who will be here next year, we will be stronger because that’s the way I think.”

Luis Enrique praises Mbappé, the model professional

Relationship with Mbappé: “Despite the fact that we’ve been confronted about the matter many times and Kylian himself denied it. I can only speak highly of him, of Kylian the footballer and Kylian the person. And his brother too. I understand his decision. He is a club legend, he has given everything for the club and the club has given him everything. I wish him well. He hasn’t said where he’s going yet, but I think it’s quite clear. I have nothing else to say. I have no complaints and I am proud to have gone through this year with Mbappé.”

Where does Mbappé rank among the great players you have coached? “I’ve been very lucky because I have always had a very direct relationship with those that you could consider the number one players and the pressure that goes with that. I‘ve been very lucky. It would be repeating myself in the same message. Each one has their personal situation. I think that everyone I have coached, and with whom I have worked, has behaved in an appropriate manner. I also don’t like to put in a classification who has been better or worse. I can only speak highly of all of the players I have had.”

Finding out about Mbappé's decision and whether the club is planning a special tribute: “I believe, sincerely that I have been sincere and honest as I have always been. I think that question is for the parties involved. You, even, surely have more information than me. I limit myself to giving my opinion. I represent PSG, I am the coach, but that question is not for me but for the parties involved.”

Mbappé's final home game for PSG

What atmosphere awaits in Paris for Mbappé's farewell: “I repeat. That question, I think I have been sincere enough, I will defend my opinion. That question is for the parties involved, not for me. One of the objectives we have had throughout the year is for this to end in the best possible way for all parties. All parties deserve to end it well.”

Your own future: “Has the word failure existed in that question? (laughs). I’m going to try to be polite and correct. How many teams are there in the Champions League? 32. To the one who asks, to the one how talks about failure. You don’t even know how many teams there are in the Champions League. The same failure is not studying how many teams there are in the Champions League. Let’s move on to the next question.”

How will PSG cope without Mbappé? “I ask you honestly, what do you think I’m going to do? And I ask you, in a very polite and correct way, will I do the same or will I change? Exactly the same. You have answered it. And I tell you, I will do the same thing I did three months ago. My goal was to find the best for the team. Not just for one player or two - always for the team. Find the best for the team. Now, the news about Mbappé is already public. He’s going to play, of course, and from there I’ll look for what I consider, that’s up to free will, whether I’ve been wrong or not. Find the best for the team.”