Relationship between Mbappé and Luis Erique breaks down: tension levels high at PSG

Ever since his first public appearance back in August, Luis Enrique reiterated that no one, not even Al Khelaïfi, is above Paris Saint-Germain. It was a message that, to a certain extent, was aimed at Kylian Mbappé, then sidelined from the first-team dynamic because of his refusal to renew. And now, over recent weeks, the Spanish coach has turned up the dial with the France captain, specifically since it was confirmed on February 16 that he will not continue next season in Paris.

In PSG’s last seven Ligue 1 matches, Mbappé has only played all 90 minutes once, against Montpellier on March 17, a match in which he scored a hat-trick. Luis Enrique justified his completely personal decisions, without orders from Qatar, by claiming that the team “has to get used to playing without him”, even though before Sunday’s Classique against Marseille, he admitted that he “still hoped” that he would change his mind.

Claims Mbappé insulted Luis Enrique after PSG sub

In the most important match in French soccer, which PSG won 2-0 after playing the second half with a numerical disadvantage due to Beraldo’s dismissal, Luis Enrique substituted him again, this time in the 63rd minute. Mbappé, visibly disgruntled and with a face like a Scottish storm cloud, left the pitch surprised by the decision. Mbappé, it seems, will never get used to his treatment by Luis Enrique, but this particular switch comes at the crucial point of the season, with two trophies - the Cup semi-final against Rennes and the Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona - at stake.

As expected, the change saw a huge reaction from fans and journalists: some even alleged insults were uttered by Mbappé as he left the pitch and Luis Enrique took a journalist’s question about it as a joke, claiming that he “hadn’t heard anything”.

Mbappé social media post adds fuel to the fire

The former Spanish national team coach was also annoyed with a question from an Amazon Prime journalist about Mbappé, to which he responded that “it’s always the same music and the same questions,” claiming that the coach is the one who makes the decisions and makes them for the benefit of the team.

Also adding to the mix was Mbappé's cryptic post on Instagram, just at the moment of the change, with his back turned in the pouring rain, in which he was indirectly saying goodbye to the last Classique he was to play in French football. It was a photo that was also interpreted as a challenge to his coach, despite the fact that the relationship between the two has a common aim, to win as many titles as possible this season with PSG, beyond any tensions or quarrels.

Mbappé's absent performance justified his 63rd-minute substitution, especially three days before the Cup semi-final against Rennes. He was the PSG player who lost the most balls against Marseille, with 12, generated virtually no dangerous chances and did not shoot once between the posts. These numbers obviously reinforce his substitution, even though Luis Enrique is the one who decides and should not have to give explanations, even if he removes the best player in the world.

Both parties are aware, now more than ever, that they must put collective interests before individual ones. Mbappé's situation will remain the same in Ligue 1 and he will probably not play 90 minutes in most of the remaining matches of the league championship. However, in the French Cup and Champions League, where PSG have no room to wobble and are playing in an all or nothing situation, the forward will have to step up and lead his team to bring the club closer to a historic treble.