Kylian Mbappé appears to be edging closer to a departure from Paris, yet as long as he graces the field for Paris Saint-Germain, they remain a formidable force.
The French World Cup victor showcased his prowess on Tuesday, notching a brace in a crucial 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad, propelling PSG back into the Champions League quarterfinals after a hiatus of three seasons.
“We were fully aware that we couldn’t afford to be complacent,” Mbappé remarked post-match. “Had they taken the lead, fueled by their supporters, it could have been a different story. We had to quash their aspirations early on. And that’s precisely what we did. We’re thrilled to be back in the quarterfinals.”
PSG secured progression with a 4-1 aggregate triumph, with Mbappé also finding the net in the 2-0 first-leg triumph in Paris three weeks prior. Speculation has been rife regarding Mbappé’s future, with reports suggesting his imminent departure to Real Madrid following the current season.
Despite substantial investment aimed at clinching their maiden Champions League title, PSG had endured early exits from the last 16 on five occasions in the past seven seasons, including the preceding two. They reached the semifinals in 2021 and were runners-up in 2020.
“Our objective was not just qualification, but victory as well,” Mbappé emphasized. “We executed a clear game plan and struck early. We didn’t succumb to excessive pressure, only a bit towards the end.”
Despite his pivotal role against Sociedad, Mbappé had failed to score in his preceding two outings, both resulting in draws against Rennes and AS Monaco, and was substituted in both matches, a decision reportedly unsettling the star forward.
However, Mbappé completed the full duration of Tuesday’s encounter and dismissed any notion of discord between himself and PSG’s coach.
“There’s no issue between us, despite what some may perceive,” Mbappé clarified. “I face challenges, but the coach isn’t one of them.”
Luis Enrique echoed this sentiment concisely: “I have no grievances with any player.”
“He can amass 50 goals and 25 assists under any coach,” asserted the PSG coach. “In my opinion, he’s the most formidable player in the world in the final third, virtually unstoppable. Today, he demonstrated his ability to retain possession when necessary and exploit open spaces.”
With his brace against Sociedad, Mbappé became the second-youngest player to reach 45 Champions League goals in both group and knockout stages, achieving the feat at 25 years and 76 days. Lionel Messi accomplished this milestone at 24 years and 257 days, with Mbappé’s tally now standing at 46 goals.
