Hand in front of one’s mouth to avoid the eye of lip-reading experts. The other’s closed face and furrowed brows. The scene captured by Canal + cameras after Paris SG’s sad draw against Clermont this Saturday marked a new episode in the tortuous relationship between Luis Enrique and Kylian Mbappé. A series where the slightest twist is scrutinized under the microscope even if it means being overinterpreted but which also underlines relationships which necessarily and strongly condition the end of the PSG season.
The Spaniard is the Frenchman’s sixth club coach, the fifth and undoubtedly the last of his Parisian life which changed on February 13 when his intention not to extend in Paris was announced in the French media. And this contractual situation served as a common thread for the Parisian season but also for the relationship between the two men. Starting this summer.
At the end of July, Mbappé found himself put on the shelf for three weeks. An obviously delicate case for him to manage. But also for his coach who accurately walked on a tightrope between on one side the management of his star who appreciated the frankness of his coach and on the other the choices of his management happy to see his coach respected his commitments.
Skilled in this balancing act, the Asturian was quick to use the crack when he had the opportunity. With a first match in Toulouse on August 19 and a goal 11 minutes after his entry. In his mind, the plan is simple: place the captain of the Blues in his preferred zone, even if it means sparing him in this fallback work where he does not shine.
A first line of fracture could have appeared during the fall. After the striker’s hat-trick in Reims on November 11, Enrique did not hesitate to criticize him: “I’m not very happy with Kylian today. On the goals, I have nothing to say. But I think he can help the team more. We think he’s one of the best players in the world, there’s no debate about that. But we need more and we want him to do more things.”
Jonathan Lange’s column: Luis Enrique’s dangerous game with Kylian Mbappé
Privately, the principal concerned appreciated this high level of requirement. He was less happy with the choice of not pushing Dortmund to snatch first place in the group in the Champions League on December 13 or his position at the forefront this winter.
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Sooner or later when that happens, we have to get used to playing without Kylian.
Between these two big personalities, the situation changed in mid-February. Mbappé, who displayed 96% playing time (87 minutes on average per match), saw this ratio drop to 67% (60 minutes on average per match) without his effectiveness being altered since, before as after February 13, he is remained decisive every 67 minutes. The actions of less playing followed the words. When, in January, Enrique explained that “when Kylian wants to play, we don’t have much to say. We can just watch him play, the staff and the public”, his speech after the matches in Nantes and against Rennes where the Bondynois only played 28 and 65 minutes marked a profound turnaround. Because for his coach: “Sooner or later when it happens, we have to get used to playing without Kylian. When I want to play it, I will. When it doesn’t, same thing.”
This shift reached its climax with this half-time replacement in Monaco on March 1, which pushed Mbappé to request a one-on-one discussion with his coach. What did they say to each other? In essence, the player was guaranteed that he would play the big games. Minus the little ones. Which was verified since he was decisive on the pitch for Real Sociedad with his double and did not miss a minute in the Cup. When its use was more parsimonious in an almost folded championship, even against Marseille. With a new controversy during its release and its insults of spite which followed for a change moderately appreciated by those around the player.
If Enrique took advantage of this sequence to assert his authority by including his star in his squad rotation policy, also confirming that he was not afraid of anything or anyone to make him a player almost like the others, he also knows the importance of his top scorer. Even more so against Barcelona.
Kylian Mbappé heats up the sauce before facing Barça: “It’s the time for the big players and I’m not going to hide”
2024-04-10 08:08:00
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