PSG coach Enrique reluctant to talk about Mbappé ahead of Champions League clash with Sociedad

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique seemed reluctant to talk about star striker Kylian Mbappé ahead of the Champions League clash with Real Sociedad.

Mbappé has been nusring a sore left ankle and was an unused substitute in Saturday’s league game against Lille.

Asked on Tuesday if Mbappé was ready to start against Sociedad in the first leg of their last-16 contest, Enrique replied with a terse “Yes” at the pre-match news conference.

“He could have played four days ago if it was a final,” Enrique said through a translator. “But since it wasn’t (a final) it wasn’t worth taking the risk.”

Mbappé's PSG contract runs out at the end of June and the France star has yet to say if he will stay, with reports heavily linking him with a move to long-time suitor Real Madrid.

So it was put to Enrique that Wednesday’s match at Parc des Princes could — potentially — be Mbappé's last home game for the club in the Champions League, given that Sociedad might eliminate PSG.

“Potential (last game)? No,” Enrique replied flatly. “That is not how I feel about it.”

PSG is 11 points clear in the French league while Sociedad is only seventh in the Spanish league. But competition in Spain is generally stronger and Ligue 1 has not produced a credible rival this season, like it did when Montpellier (2012), Mbappé's Monaco (2017) and Lille (2021) won the title, and when Lens fell short by one point last season.

Once again, all eyes are on the Champions League as a true indicator of PSG’s level.

“I’m not going to answer that question,” Enrique replied when asked if PSG was favored to go through against Sociedad.

”It matters little what I say, the favorite needs to show it on the field.” Enrique may deliberately be trying to take some pressure off