Mbappé Benched Til the End of the Season : PSG Gives Luis Enrique Free Rein
The management shift regarding Kylian Mbappé by Luis Enrique is complete: the player is no longer untouchable, with the support of the PSG hierarchy.
The clash has begun. It’s only just starting. According to Foot Mercato, Mbappé’s substitution during Monaco-PSG is significant. The player “pays for his intention to leave the club at the end of the season. Even though the management expected this decision, it’s about saving face,” explains FM.
Everything changed since last January when Nasser Al-Khelaïfi was informed of the player’s decision to leave. Since then, the stance is clear: no gifts. “The PSG president had already hinted to his inner circle that if the French striker signed for Real Madrid, ‘he would not play,’ a sort of carte blanche given to Luis Enrique in managing the World Cup champion,” notes Foot Mercato. And at PSG, they believe that Kylian Mbappé has already signed for Real Madrid. Sanction pending, therefore.
Luis Enrique, on the other hand, now has free rein to manage Mbappé, which was not necessarily the case before. If he performs poorly, as was the case in the recent matches, he’ll be headed for the bench.
Luis Enrique and Mbappé, silent clash
According to Foot Mercato, Luis Enrique “remained fairly indifferent following Kylian Mbappé’s announcement before the Real Sociedad match, a game where he was uncertain due to injury. The former coach of La Roja then suggested that the possible absence of the Parisian number 7 bothered him less than those of other players like Ousmane Dembélé or Bradley Barcola.”
Even worse, the bond between Mbappé and his coach has reportedly been broken for a long time. “Sources at the club even claim that privately, they can’t stand each other anymore, without there being any verbal or physical confrontation. These tensions have never been demonstrative.”
“Sooner or later, Mbappé won’t play with us anymore”
In a press conference, Luis Enrique became increasingly clear. “Sooner or later, we’ll have to play without Kylian, so I’m trying to find the best option for the team, what I believe is best for the team. Sometimes I’m wrong, sometimes I’m right,” said Luis Enrique on Prime Video. “If it’s related to his departure? (He pauses) I repeat: sooner or later, he won’t play with us anymore. We have to get used to it.”
Finally, he believes he is the sole master when it comes to player selection: “I will do what I believe is best for the team. I don’t want to create controversy. It’s my decision.”
