PSG coach Luis Enrique has spoken out about the early substitution of Mbappe.
“Luis Enrique has denied that he tried to punish Kylian Mbappe by substituting him at halftime against Monaco in response to the Paris Saint-Germain star’s behavior,” British outlet Goal.com reported on Feb. 2 (KST).
Paris Saint-Germain drew 1-1 with Rennes in the 23rd round of the 2023/24 French Ligue 1 season on Feb. 26 at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France. Mbappe started the match and was replaced by Hammers in the 20th minute. The substitute scored a dramatic equalizing PK goal in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time to save Paris from defeat.
Mbappe’s substitute appearance did not end there. Paris Saint-Germain played AS Monaco to a 0-0 draw in the 24th round of the 2023/24 French Ligue 1 season at Stade Louis II in Monaco, France, on Feb. 2 (ET). Again, Mbappe was substituted just before half-time.
Mbappe was taken off at halftime and replaced by Kolo Moani, the second consecutive game in which Mbappe was substituted without a lead. After the substitution, Mbappe was seen taking off his jersey and resting in the stands instead of joining his teammates on the bench. Luis Enrique denied after the game that there was a split between him and Mbappe.
After the game, Enrique told reporters: “Is this a punishment for Mbappe? The answer is that I think I have already shown it. Sooner or later we have to get used to playing without Mbappe. My philosophy is to think about what is best for the team. I don’t want to argue. This is the decision I have made,” he said.
Substituting Mbappe so early in the game had never happened before, let alone twice, so the decision naturally raised eyebrows when it was made. With Mbappe set to leave PSG 토토 for Real Madrid in the summer, it’s ambiguous whether Luis Enrique’s choice can be considered punishment.
As Enrique said, he needs to prepare his team to play without Mbappe. While Mbappe’s departure would seem to leave a gaping hole in Luis Enrique’s Paris ahead of the 2024/25 season, the coach insists that the club will be better off without him. Speaking at a press conference, Luis Enrique was asked about the club’s prospects after Mbappe’s departure: “If everything goes well, we will be a better team next season, in terms of attack, defense, tactics, everything. I have no doubt about that.”
PSG have already identified several players as possible replacements for Mbappe, including Raphael Varane, Victor Osimhen and Marcus Rashford.