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8 months ago
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By doing without Kylian Mbappé more regularly for two months, as against OL on Sunday evening, Luis Enrique is preventing the PSG striker from making an impression. A handicap in the race for the Ballon d’Or.
This has been going on for two months. Since mid-February, when he reportedly announced to Nasser Al-Khelaïfi his intention to leave the capital club at the end of the season to join Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappé has once again become a player like the others at PSG. While he was previously untouchable or almost, the Parisian striker is now paying the price for the turnover imposed by the Spanish coach, who did without his services during the clash against OL (4-1), Sunday evening at the end of the 30e day of Ligue 1.
And there is no need to ask him for explanations, his answer is always the same: “As far as Kylian is concerned, I have nothing to say until the parties speak out, I will continue to remain silent and when the parties speak out, then it will be time to speak. » However, there is an obvious reason to blow it, Paris Saint-Germain still being involved in the Champions League and the Coupe de France. But through his words, the Catalan technician suggests that this decision is also a little political.
Mbappé beaten by Bellingham for the Ballon d’Or?
In any case, this choice to leave the Rouge et Bleu star on the bench more regularly, obviously apart from big occasions like against FC Barcelona, does not help him achieve all his objectives. Especially personal. Since the first leg against Real Sociedad on February 14, Paris Saint-Germain has played eight matches in the league and Kylian Mbappé has scored “only” 4 goals, including a hat-trick in Montpellier, who had 20 goals after 21 days. A loss of speed on a statistical level which should not delight him.
If his end of the year will obviously be marked by the quest for potential collective titles, in Ligue 1, the Champions League and the Coupe de France with PSG but also at Euro 2024 with the Blues, the former Bondy prodigy is aiming also his first Ballon d’Or. At this stage of the season, his most serious rival is Jude Bellingham and the English midfielder plays every match with Real Madrid, often in almost their entirety. A frequency which allows him to show his advantage more than the international tricolor.
So the contrast was striking this weekend. While a well-bundled Kylian Mbappé among the Parisian substitutes witnessed the great success of his teammates in front of Lyon, Jude Bellingham shone during the Clasico in La Liga, scoring the winning goal for Merengue in added time (3-2) . These are images that strike the mind. In the eyes of the Ballon d’Or jury, this will not replace the titles that both will win in the weeks to come. But in the event of a close vote, it could make the difference.
