At Parc des Princes, they would prefer to avoid that topic, but no matter how hard they try, it is impossible to avoid it. In one way or another, like it or not, Kylian Mbappe is the main topic in Paris, often in the whole of France. This Wednesday, they are talking about his performance vs Real Sociedad in the Champions League, and it was very good, but even as such, it causes anxiety in the Paris Saint-Germain camp, because it brings with it the question – what happens after he leaves?The French champion was not under pressure last night in the Basque Country, they brought a comfortable advantage from Paris, but Mbappe tried his best for PSG not to repeat the fallouts against Real Madrid and Manchester United from two and five years ago. On Tuesday night in San Sebastian, the captain of the French national team killed any hope of Sociedad – that after the minimal defeat in the first match, they could get a positive result at Anoeta – with two goals and once again showed that he is the only one in the current team capable of deciding games. The big ones, the ones after which there is no redo. The ones he decided so many times in the jersey with the national emblem.Mbappe’s decision to leave the club at the end of his contract led Luis Enrique to think carefully about the role of the 25-year-old striker in the team, but also about the future of the club. “It seems that his future is not here, so we will have to test other players,” repeated the Spanish strategist after last night’s victory in the round of 16 (2-0) for the umpteenth time since he did what Mauricio Pochettino did not dare to try two years ago – to let the Frenchman know that he is not bigger than the club, no matter how ‘big’ that club is.##NAJAVA_MECA_7929638##About twenty days ago against Nantes, although Mbappe was completely healthy, Enrique brought him on from the bench, and on the weekend against Monaco, with the score 0-0, he brought him on at halftime, telling him indirectly that the decision he made carries with it certain consequences. What Pochettino, although he had both Lionel Messi and Neymar in the team at that moment, did not dare to do.”Luis Enrique’s decisions? The coach decides. We are with him, you can be sure of that. The most important thing is the team, Paris Saint-Germain,” said Al Khelaifi last night, making it clear that he welcomes Enrique’s move.In the spring of 2022, the Qatari owners did everything in their power to keep Mbappe at the club, offering him all the treasures of the world and only with the help of the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, convinced him to stay. Or they just postponed the obvious, what was inevitable when he stepped on the stage as a teenager in the Monaco jersey. The quick-footed Frenchman was destined to wear the Royal Club shirt and his hometown only held him back on his way to even greater success. So although he would no doubt be happy to keep him at the club for the rest of his career, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al Khelaifi has decided not to allow the team’s first star to pull his nose again and set crazy terms after he made the decision to leave the club at the end of the season.When your soon-to-be-ex boss says you’re the best in the world – then you probably are!The decision he announced to the club in mid-February, after which, realizing that he will not be able to count on him from the next season, Enrique started to prepare for life after Mbappe. The French media, who have criticized him for the way he treats their captain – although any neutral football fan will tell you that his attitude is correct – write that the Qatari owners, in agreement with Luis Campos, have prepared a plan for the upcoming transfer window that includes bringing in three sound reinforcements, one in each of the team’s lines to keep Paris Saint-Germain competitive in Europe.🗣️ Kylian Mbappe denies any issues with Luis Enrique. “My relationship with the coach is good. There is no problem even if people might think there is. I have many issues but the coach is not one of them.” pic.twitter.com/7HJCaFy4Iz— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) March 6, 2024 In addition, the French colleagues have also noticed how Enrique has been forcing Mbappe into the no.9 position for some time and thereby opening up space for Bradley Barcola on the left wing, would he not prepare the guy who was paid 45,000,000 euros to Lyon this summer to take over the role of a four-year-old senior compatriot next season But it’s hard work. Barcola is far from a player ready to carry the team on his back. It was confirmed once again last night in the northern Spanish province. The boy from Lyon was one of the lowest-rated on the field and it is no wonder that Enrique sent him to the bench at halftime to watch the show of the man whose shoes he should step into next season. The man who shares the Champions League top scorer status with Harry Kane, who has scored 11 of Paris Saint-Germain’s last 15 goals in the knockout stages and will finish as Ligue 1’s top scorer for a sixth consecutive season.##EDITORS_CHOICE##There is an impression that Paris Saint-Germain could win it even without Kylian’s help, and that is why Enrique is not using him fully in the championship matches. But when Champions League nights come, Mbappe plays 90 minutes. And he decides matches. The question remains – what the future without Kylian looks like?
