The situation between Luis Enrique and Kylian Mbappé at PSG

Despite comfortably leading Ligue 1, having gone 19 games unbeaten, and being close to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the semi-finals of the Coupe de France, an episode between Luis Enrique and Kylian Mbappé on Friday, during the 0-0 draw with Monaco, has once again raised doubts in France about the Asturian coach’s handling of the club’s all-time top scorer.

Both parties had a private conversation at the Poissy training ground on Saturday to clarify the situation. Mbappé asked to speak to Luis Enrique and the coach from Gijón explained the reality: he is preparing the team not to depend on his quality or his goals after June. That is the message he reiterated in a press conference and that is the reason why he no longer considers Mbappé untouchable, at least in Ligue 1.

In the French top flight, Luis Enrique can afford to replace Mbappé even if his side is not winning, as he did last week against Rennes because the title is not in jeopardy. It will be a different matter in the Champions League, where, according to L’Équipe, the former Spain coach told the captain of the French national team, during the meeting on Saturday, that the management of his minutes will not be the same and that he is counting on him to try to go as far as possible in the top continental competition.

If there is one thing the forward has shown, it is that he can win any game regardless of his previous performance, like in the 2022 World Cup final, in which he scored a hat-trick after the 80th-minute mark.

PSG without Mbappé

Luis Enrique is already preparing for life without Mbappé at PSG, as he is expected to join Real Madrid this summer. Barcola, who was a substitute until November, has become a fundamental player for the club, establishing himself as a quality left winger. Others, including Dembélé, Zaïre-Emery and Kolo Muani are slowly stepping up ahead of the departure of Mbappé.

“Sooner or later we have to get used to playing without Mbappé. I take him off because I think it’s the best thing for the team at that moment. I make decisions all the time,” Luis Enrique has repeated, aware that Paris Saint-Germain, for the past three years, have been overly reliant on the goals and talent of the Bondy star.

The meeting that took place this Saturday in Poissy, on the outskirts of Paris, was summed up as “satisfactory” by various witnesses present, according to RMC Sport. That Luis Enrique is taking off Mbappé in Ligue 1 has caused a stir because no one has ever substituted him, bar injury, at half-time like in Monaco on Friday, but what could be interpreted as a punishment is actually a prelude to what PSG will be like next season. Both are highly competitive and are already focused on next Tuesday’s match at Anoeta against Real Sociedad.