In his management, Luis Enrique usually reminds us that he counts on his 23 players and not simply on eleven starters. This great principle that he repeats at almost every press conference has seen a few twists since the start of the season. In major events, the names of Warren Zaire-Emery, Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi or Kylian Mbappé are automatically checked among the holders.
Proof that the top scorer in Ligue 1 rightly benefited from somewhat different treatment since his return to the Parisian group on the evening of the first day against Lorient (0-0), he had played the entirety of all the matches he started, without ever being replaced. Even pushing the vice to the point of remaining on the pitch during the Coupe de France matches against Revel (9-0, January 7) and Orléans (4-1, January 20) while the opponent was very much inferior.
But we must believe that the situation has changed since Friday February 9. That day, within the walls of the PSG Campus, Kylian Mbappé was able to meet Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, with whom he had been trying to obtain a meeting since mid-January. Facing his president, he confirmed the feeling that had dominated the club for several weeks: he is going to leave and this time, it will be impossible to keep him. Since this date, the Parisian striker has assured his partners, the coach and the club staff that his decision is irrevocable.
A first since November 6, 2022
On the ground, this announcement, which he has not yet made publicly, has visibly changed a lot of things. After starting on the bench against FC Nantes before offering victory to Paris last week, the captain of the Blues left his place during the match for the first time this season. We were playing the 65th minute when Karim Abed, the fourth referee, held up the scoreboard to announce the changes: in green the number 9 of Gonçalo Ramos came to replace the 7 marked in red of Kylian Mbappé.
Shock at the Parc des Princes when he had not left his partners during the match, barring injury, since November 6, 2022 against Lorient (2-1). It was a few weeks before the start of the World Cup. “We have to learn to play without Kylian,” conceded Luis Enrique at a press conference after the draw against Rennes (1-1).
To justify this choice, it is true that his coach also had serious arguments to put forward in terms of the game. Against the Bretons, Mbappé lost this activity which had been his strength in this position of number 9 for several weeks, offering very few movements or solutions and only winning two small duels out of seven contested. However, even when he goes through certain matches like a shadow, the Parisian is capable of some flashes and it was in particular when he came on the right side to lend a hand to Hakimi and Dembélé, that Vitinha found himself at the conclusion of the best Parisian situation of the first period (20th).
Two minutes before the change, he gave the first thrill with a powerful strike from the edge of the area (63rd). It was everything and too little for a champion of his size but the main lesson from this Sunday will remain that Luis Enrique can now take out Kylian Mbappé shortly after the hour mark without it no longer becoming a state affair. And he is already preparing for next season, without him.