Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint Germain displayed his frustration after being subbed off by Luis Enrique during the PSG clash against Marseille on Sunday, March 31.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner had led the French powerhouse throughout the best part of the game on Sunday night, in what thereafter became an intense contest between the two fierce Ligue 1 rivals.
The 25-year-old was filmed looking frustrated and visibly annoyed at the decision the boss made as he trudged off in the rain at the Orange Velodrome Stadium.
It is not the first time Luis Enrique was seen making such a decision, he did the same during PSG’s previous games before the just-concluded international break.
The captain was subbed off during the crucial part of the game between PSG and Marseille, having been reduced to 10 men after Lucas Beraldo’s sending-off in the first half. PSG were protecting a 1-0 lead courtesy of Vitinha’s second-half strike.
The French champions also overcame an equalizer scare when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR ) interfered to rule out a Marseille’s goal. But despite entering into the last stages of a huge match, Luis Enrique clearly felt that Mbappe’s service on the pitch was no longer needed.
Goncelo Romos was brought on as Mbappe’s replacement and scored four minutes into the game, showing that the coach’s decision was justified.
The PSG boss expressed his boredom at having to explain his decision again after full-time, telling Prime Video; “It’s the same music every single week, the same music… it’s so boring. I am the manager, I make the decisions every day, every week”.
“I am going to do the same until my last day in Paris. I always try to find the best solution for my team. Even if you don’t (understand the decision), I don’t care. I don’t care at all (smiles).”
That substitution follows a similar trend in recent weeks at club level. Mbappe was removed in the Ligue 1 games against Rennes and Monaco, lasting just 45 minutes in the latter before inexplicably snubbing his teammates to sit in the stands with his mother.
After he was subbed off on Sunday, the Frenchman decided not to immediately re-join his team-mates and headed straight down the tunnel.
Luis Enrique’s decision is set to be another talking point as reports of his summer move to Real Madrid continue.
What is next for Kylian Mbappe?
It is no news that the former AS Monaco forward has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid, therefore, it remains to be seen if the 25-year-old will secure the move when the summer transfer window opens.
