Relationship between Mbappé and Erique breaks down: tension levels high at PSG

The French forward not longer has the status of an ‘untouchable’ player at PSG, with Luis Enrique asserting his dominance as the tension rises.

Ever since his first public appearance back in August, Luis Enrique reiterated that no one, not even Al Khelaïfi, is above Paris Saint-Germain. It was a message that, to a certain extent, was aimed at Kylian Mbappé, then sidelined from the first-team dynamic because of his refusal to renew. And now, over recent weeks, the Spanish coach has turned up the dial with the France captain, specifically since it was confirmed on February 16 that he will not continue next season in Paris.

In PSG’s last seven Ligue 1 matches, Mbappé has only played all 90 minutes once, against Montpellier on March 17, a match in which he scored a hat-trick. Luis Enrique justified his completely personal decisions, without orders from Qatar, by claiming that the team “has to get used to playing without him”, even though before Sunday’s Classique against Marseille, he admitted that he “still hoped” that he would change his mind.

In the most important match in French soccer, which PSG won 2-0 after playing the second half with a numerical disadvantage due to Beraldo’s dismissal, Luis Enrique substituted him again, this time in the 63rd minute. Mbappé, visibly disgruntled and with a face like a Scottish storm cloud, left the pitch surprised by the decision. Mbappé, it seems, will never get used to his treatment by Luis Enrique, but this particular switch comes at the crucial point of the season, with two trophies - the Cup semi-final against Rennes and the Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona - at stake.

As expected, the change saw a huge reaction from fans and journalists: some even alleged insults