Victim of a blow this Monday in training, the 23-year-old world champion is not yet sure of being able to hold his place in Madrid on Wednesday, but the latest echoes seem reassuring.
Only one being is missing and everything is depopulated. Lamartine’s verse would take on its full meaning if Kylian Mbappé were to miss the call on Wednesday (9 p.m.), in Madrid, during the Champions League round of 16 second leg between Real and PSG. Admittedly, the leader of Ligue 1 is not lacking in talent and superstars, from Neymar to Leo Messi, via Angel Di Maria, Marco Verratti or Marquinhos, to name a few.
But the Parisian defeat in Nice on Saturday (1-0) demonstrated, if it were still needed, that “KM”, suspended at the Allianz Riviera, is not simply important, central or precious in the red galaxy and blue. It is essential. Harmless, his teammates broke their teeth on the Nice block for 90 minutes, with the unpleasant impression that they could have played for hours without finding the fault or making Walter Benitez shiver. “There is a PSG with Kylian and another without himsummed up the Nice coach Christophe Galtier on Saturday evening, after the match.
Clinical examination is reassuring, but…
It remains to be seen whether PSG will be able to count on the one Leonardo describes as “best player in the world” Wednesday. A question that is likely to remain unanswered until the last hours before the meeting. Victim of a sole on the left foot in training, Monday, during a duel with Gana Gueye, the 23-year-old world champion “performed treatment (Monday afternoon). The clinical examination is reassuring and a new point will be made in 24 hours.“Explained the Parisian club on Monday. The risk of fracture is therefore ruled out, but the blow is serious enough to shake all of Paris. The planets seemed to be aligned, however, with Achraf Hakimi and Leo Paredes returning to collective training in recent days. Only Sergio Ramos (calf) and Ander Herrera (eye), officially out for Real, squat the infirmary.
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If the PSG has every reason to tremble in the event of Mbappé’s package, it is therefore that the ex-Monegasque makes rain and shine on the banks of the Seine. Scorer, passer, detonator… There are the numbers (24 goals and 17 assists in 34 games), and everything else. Qualified for ” shark» by Thomas Tuchel, from «fantasy playerby Mauricio Pochettino, it never ceases to amaze, surprise. Although, Greg Paisley was not surprised by the performance of the Parisian number 7 against Real in the first leg, with this winning goal in the 94th minute (1-0). “We can no longer be surprised», swears the consultantbeIN Sportswho expected a new “master-class“From Mbappé to Bernabeu, despite a context to say the least particular. “He’s got such a strong brain that I don’t worry about him. He will ignore the environment and I even think he will feed on it“, estimated the former Parisian before the injury on Monday.
Impervious to pressure, Mbappé had in any case been in the first leg, with a successful performance and this goal which had put Real KO and all of Europe at his feet. And this when he dreamed of joining… the Casa Blanca last summer. PSG said no. At the end of June, the Ile-de-France prodigy will be free to make his choice. Some Spanish sources suggest that the decision has already been made. Leonardo, he explained again recently ” to believeto an outcome that will be favorable to Paris Saint-Germain.
“I said I was going to give it my all, but you had to show it with action. »
Kylian Mbappé
One thing is certain: Mbappé has his head in Paris, as we saw on the way out. A head well made and always turned towards the collective, as evidenced by its message of support for Gueye, not spared on social networks since the incident of Monday’s training session. “I said I was going to give it my all, but you had to show it with action“, had declared the phenomenon three weeks ago, affirming that it would be necessary “show it a second timein the second act.
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To see if his left foot will give him the opportunity. The latest feedback is rather positive and encouraging. Mbappé will in any case make the trip to Madrid with the rest of his teammates. This is also the case of Sergio Ramos. This would be an opportunity to wring the necks of skeptics who doubt this “ MNM (Mbappe, Neymar, Messi). And there is reason to doubt. Paris have conceded three of their five defeats this season when the trio debuted. In fact, PSG have won only 50% of their matches with the “MNM”, with 1.6 goals scored and 1.2 conceded, against 71% success, 2.2 goals scored and 0.8 conceded without she.
Messi passing, Mbappé finishing
By associating Kylian Mbappé, Leo Messi and Neymar, Paris has chosen to marry the imbalance. “As soon as we have the ball, if we hurt, that’s the main thing. If we recruited these players, it’s because we believe in them“, recently dropped Leonardo inThe Team. Mauricio Pochettino could decide to deprive himself of one of the three this Wednesday, but “that would be an offense to footballas Paisley points out. “If it matches between them, it can do damage“, he adds, highlighting the Messi-Mbappé connection. “Messi passing and Mbappé finishing, the formula is perfect“Says the former PSG defender. It remains to be seen whether Mbappé will be able to ensure the finish.
