Amid call to join Madrid, PSG coach says Mbappé his usual self،
It's business as usual for Kylian Mbappé as Paris Saint-Germain prepare for the Champions League round of 16, head coach Luis Enrique said on Tuesday, despite sources telling ESPN that the The striker is reportedly leaving the club this summer to join Real Madrid.
ESPN reported on February 3 that Mbappé had made the decision to join Madrid, although he had not yet informed either club.
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Mbappé did not feature in PSG's Ligue 1 match this weekend due to an ankle injury, but is expected to return for the match against Real Sociedad in the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday.
Asked if he had any feelings about this potentially being Mbappé's last Champions League match at the Parc des Princes, Luis Enrique replied: “That's not what I feel and therefore I feel neither joy nor sadness – he [Mbappé] It’s business as usual.”
Mbappé, who has scored 30 goals in 29 matches this season, was an unused substitute in the 3-1 win over Lille on Saturday, a precaution taken after suffering a knock on his ankle three days earlier in another victory 3 -1 against Brest in the Coup de France.
“When a team has a player like Kylian Mbappé, of course we know that the more he plays the better, because we all benefit,” Luis Enrique said.
“There's no doubt about it. He could have played [on Saturday] if it had been a final, but it wasn't, it wouldn't be worth it. Kylian Mbappé is available, just like the other players.”
The coach could afford to rest Mbappé in the league, where PSG is now 11 points ahead of Nice and has gone 16 games without defeat, but in the Champions League everything has not gone smoothly.
PSG finished second in their group behind Borussia Dortmund and lost to Newcastle United and AC Milan. They are also winless in their last three games in the competition, a stark contrast to Real Sociedad.
Real Sociedad may be struggling domestically, seventh in La Liga, but they top their Champions League group, which included Inter Milan, and are unbeaten in Europe this season.
“Real Sociedad have a tight defense in the Champions League, they don't give the ball away easily. We have to press them aggressively,” Luis Enrique said.
“They are definitely one of the best teams in the competition, which is why they qualified as group winners. They were in a group with last year's runners-up.”
Information from Reuters contributed to this report.
