The relationship between coach Luis Enrique and Kylian Mbappe is very bad, thereby leaving the French striker’s ability to start against Sociedad open.
In the first leg of the round of 16 against Sociedad, Mbappe played the full 90 minutes and scored 1 goal, thereby contributing to the 2-0 victory. But since then, the 25-year-old superstar has no longer been able to play a full match in Ligue 1.
Against Nantes, Mbappe scored while coming off the bench. Then, in the 1-1 draw with Rennes, he was replaced in the 65th minute. In the next match against Monaco, Mbappe was even replaced right after the first half . Mbappe made the situation more serious by climbing straight into the stands to sit with his family for the remainder of the match rather than sitting in the same cabin as his teammates.
All of this comes after Mbappe’s announcement that he will leave PSG at the end of this season. When asked if he would continue to treat Mbappe the same way he was doing in Ligue 1 before the rematch with Sociedad, Enrique calmly said: “Yes, of course, why not?”.
According to ESPN, after the night of the Monaco match, Mbappe went straight to meet Luis Enrique at PSG headquarters to talk things through. Mbappe felt he was being treated unfairly after announcing his departure from PSG at the end of the season. However, Enrique responded that there was no personal grudge or punishment here just because he chose to leave the Paris team this summer.
“Sooner or later, we will play without Mbappe so I am looking for the best solution for the team,” Enrique said after the Monaco match. “PSG needs to get used to playing without Mbappe. I will do what is best for my team. I don’t want to create controversy. That’s my decision.”