A fuss in Paris

Insult to majesty causes great unrest

Paris coach Luis Enrique and Kylian Mbappé need to talk.(Bild: APA/AFP/FRANCK FIFE)

PSG superstar Kylian Mbappé has recently been replaced twice by coach Luis Enrique. Today, the Parisians visit Real Sociedad in Spain.

The summer transfer of Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid is causing unrest at Paris Saint-Germain. An unrest that the French side do not need at all ahead of today's Champions League round of 16 second leg away to Real Sociedad.

One-on-one
The "insult to majesty" that coach Luis Enrique substituted the megastar at the break in last Friday's 0-0 draw in Monaco (something that had never happened before) has certainly not cooled tempers. Mbappé was also substituted in the 65th minute of the 1-1 draw against Rennes (with the score at 1-0). Luis Enrique and Mbappé met at PSG's training ground the morning after the game against Monegasque, who are coached by Adi Hütter, for a one-on-one meeting to clarify events and calm the atmosphere.

Luis Enrique admitted that communication had been "poor" until then. However, the Spaniard has now clearly explained the reasons for the substitutions to the super striker. The coach already wants to plan for the coming season (given the big lead in Ligue 1), but Mbappé will clearly continue to play in the important games.

And that of course applies to today's visit to the Basque Country. Although Mbappé & Co. won the first leg 2-0 in Paris, there is no room for recklessness in PSG's match preparations after two recent knockouts in the round of 16. "We'll be on our guard," promised Luis Enrique. Sociedad are currently struggling with form problems and have lost three of their last four games.