Another substitution controversy involves Luis Enrique and Kylian Mbappé. The Spanish manager substituted the 25-year-old at halftime of Paris Saint-Germain’s scoreless draw against AS Monaco.
However, speculation abounds regarding the source of the decision to substitute the forward, whether it stems from the coach or higher authorities. The Spanish media outlet Diario AS (h/t Le10Sport) provides insight into the behind-the-scenes developments.
According to the reporting, the recent treatment of Mbappé in the last matches isn’t coming from any of the club’s leaders. Qatari leaders and Nasser Al-Khelaïfi are reportedly not involved in Enrique’s decisions.
It’s suggested that only the Spanish coach is accountable for the dynamics within the team, including how players like Mbappé are handled. Enrique seems focused on building a team for the future that doesn’t rely heavily on the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner. As a result, he’s aiming for his group to adapt to playing without him.
The timing isn’t perfect as the team gears up for the second leg against Real Sociedad in the Champions League Round of 16. It’s uncertain whether Enrique will trust the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner for this pivotal match.
