Cyrille de la Morinerie with AFP / Photo credit: IBRAHIM EZZAT / NURPHOTO / NURPHOTO VIA AFP
A relationship crisis? Luis Enrique claimed on Tuesday that his relationship with Kylian Mbappé was “perfect”, as the French PSG striker appeared with a closed face during the match against Lille on Sunday in Ligue 1 after being annoyed against Dortmund on Wednesday in the Champions League. “As always, a perfect relationship,” replied the Spanish coach of Paris Saint-Germain when asked on the subject.
“We are not a couple but above all because it is he who does not want to (smile). I do not know why you continue to ask me this question, I am very close to most of my players”, said he continued during his press conference on the eve of the last match of the first leg of Ligue 1 against Metz at the Parc des Princes (9 p.m.). “We have always been very close with Kylian. He makes jokes, always laughs. I like to laugh too. We have a very good relationship with the rest of the players,” continued the technician.
A coach who is fussy with his attacker
In Dortmund last Wednesday, during the decisive C1 match, the PSG star was quite annoyed at the end of the match, frustrated to see his teammates trying to maintain the draw, rather than attacking to win, which would have guaranteed first place in the group. Four days later, traveling to Lille (1-1), the Parisian, at the end of his contract at PSG next June, played with a closed face throughout the match even when he converted a penalty (66th).
Asked about the career of his striker who celebrates his 25th birthday on Wednesday, the Spaniard declared: “I hope he will have even more success here at PSG and that we can help him. He is fantastic (.. .) and it’s a chance to have it.” His “statistics are also impressive. I hope to see him always at the top of world football,” he insisted.
In the meantime, since his arrival at the start of the season in Paris, Louis Enrique has not spared his star. Last November, after a resounding hat-trick from Kylian Mbappé, the Parisian coach said that he was not very happy with the performance of his star striker. Tuesday, Luis Enrique therefore softened his speech and the captain of the France team, who is celebrating his 25th birthday today, must certainly have appreciated it.