Paris Saint-Germain’s coach, Luis Enrique, substituted Kylian Mbappé in a match for the second consecutive time. The Spanish strategist opted for Randal Kolo Muani, 25, sparking a chain reaction of drama during the scoreless draw between PSG and AS Monaco.
Initially, speculation arose regarding Mbappé’s substitution, with one of the early assumptions being a potential injury during the first half.
However, according to RMC Sport, this is not the case, as the French media outlet clarifies that Mbappé was not injured. Moreover, the report specifies that Enrique decided to remove the player.
After the match, the 53-year-old spoke with Prime Video Sport France and decided not to fan the flames to the drama. Enrique again stated that the team must learn to play without the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner.
“I have been in football for quite a long time, you must know that everything is important in this kind of club. Sooner or later, we will play without Mbappé, so I am looking for the best option for the team. We have to get used to that,” Enrique told the outlet.
Luis Enrique on subbing out Mbappé at half-time: “I have been in football for quite a long time, you must know that everything is important in this kind of club. Sooner or later we will play without Mbappé, so I am looking for the best option for the team. We have to get used to… pic.twitter.com/Qo0xT0fSam
— PSG Report (@PSG_Report) March 1, 2024
As the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie against Real Sociedad approaches its second leg, the team lacks the momentum necessary for success. The upcoming match will test whether Enrique maintains trust in PSG’s all-time leading goal scorer.