And 100!
Stuck at 99 since his double in Monaco (3-2 defeat), Kylian Mbappé blew up the glass ceiling that deprived him of his 100th Parisian goal on Saturday, on the ground of Montpellier (3-1 victory).
"It was not the hardest", smiled the prodigy of 21 years, at the microphone of
Canal +
.
He only had to push the ball into the net, on an offering from Layvin Kurzawa, he who was preserved at kick-off only to come into play in the 78th minute instead. another scorer, Moise Kean.
From Monaco, Mbappé wanted this goal.
A little too much sometimes… To the point of playing against nature, of forcing certain situations.
This was the case against Bordeaux (2-2) in Ligue 1, and against Leipzig (1-0) and Manchester United (3-1) in the Champions League, even if Thomas Tuchel and Didier Deschamps noted, just title, which the interested party knows how to be valuable even when it does not mark.
At Old Trafford, he was also involved in two of the three Parisian goals.
His burst of speed and his ability to unbalance by dribbling or passing are all strings to his bow ...
"
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In only 137 matches, since his transfer to 180 M € in 2017, the former Monegasque has already risen to the level of Dominique Rocheteau - also 100 achievements - in the pantheon of Parisian scorers, in fourth place, far ahead of his little comrades Angel Di Maria (9th, 85 goals) and Neymar Jr (11th, 76 goals).
He is only beaten by the top three, Edinson Cavani (200 goals in 301 matches), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (156 goals in 180 matches) and Pedro Miguel Pauleta (109 goals in 211 matches).
Will extend, will not extend?
"In a big club like that, with all the great players who have passed ... When I signed here, I never thought of scoring so many goals, he promises.
It was part of the distant goals, but it wasn't a goal like that.
To make it happen… Thank you to the teammates, thank you to the club.
I have always been given confidence during those three (and a half) years, in good times or bad.
Thank you to everyone who works and to my teammates of course. ”
Which teammates can also say thank you, because Mbappé is also a passer: 58 caviars with PSG.
“I think I can score even more.
On that, I have a margin, he assures.
I might have a lot of assists already, but compared to my own margin I think I can do even more assists.
It will come with time. ”
100 goals for PSG.
An incredible sense of pride.
A big thank you to all my teammates, the club, my relatives and of course you the fans for your support.
HERE THIS IS PARIS ❤️ @ PSG_insidepic.twitter.com / W48hA5VlfK
- Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) December 5, 2020
It remains to be seen how long Paris Saint-Germain will be able to rely on the international tricolor (39 caps, 16 goals), under contract until 2022 and that Leonardo aims to extend as quickly as possible.
"We are talking quietly, things are progressing well," says the Parisian sports director, also on C +.
We have taken steps forward compared to the situation ten or fifteen days ago.
We will continue."
If necessary, Mbappé could dream of reaching 200 goals, like the Matador before him.
"Who knows ?
I never thought I'd score 100 goals.
200 is still a long way off.
He smiles.
Score goals, score on Tuesday (against Istanbul Basaksehir on Matchday 6 of the Champions League) and the following matches. ”
And to continue: "200 is far (smile)."
It's far, but it could go quickly by continuing to shoot at 0.73 goals per game.
Besides, he is at the top of the ranking of L1 scorers (10 goals in 9 matches).
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In the Champions League, it's harder: “Kyky” hasn't scored for… almost a year!
Or a long silence of nine matches.
An eternity on his scale ... “I had wanted to mark him for a few matches.
It's a liberation, ”he says.
Good news for Paris, which will need its world champion to avoid unpleasant surprises on Tuesday, and thus validate the ticket for the knockout stages of C1.
A draw will suffice, but you can never be too careful ... "If this will free him?
I hope.
But life is not too hard, laughs Thomas Tuchel.
I don't know if it was necessary for him to break free, but like I said after Manchester he had a good game last Wednesday.
If he continues to work, I am very comfortable: we will create opportunities for him.
Today I can only congratulate him, he is still decisive.
And all forwards need goals.
I hope we can continue on Tuesday. ”
Wink of fate, it is against another Istanbul club that Mbappé scored in “Champions” for the last time, Galatasaray (5-0), on December 11, 2019.
"I'm feeling better and better and going through matches, that will allow me to come back to 100%"
Kylian Mbappé
For the rest, the Bondynois is doing well, thank you for him, recovered from the glitch in the thigh which deprived him of Leipzig (1-2 defeat) and Rennes (3-0 victory).
“I worked a lot in selection, he recalls.
It really helped me that the club and the selection get along perfectly on the program.
I know that it made a lot of talk ... So it must be said: both parties worked very well and that's why I was able to replay directly after the truce.
I'm feeling better and better and going after matches will allow me to come back to 100%. ”
Welcome to the 1⃣0⃣0⃣ @KMbappe club!
❤️ # WeAreParispic.twitter.com / qPZ8DCSqaJ
- Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) December 5, 2020
Well physically, and good at the club too: “When I arrived, I wanted to improve as much as possible at the club and you do not progress in a year, he emphasizes, still just as comfortable in front of the cameras.
I am at three and a half years.
I have been through a lot here.
The club has always supported me.
I had times when I was less well and the club supported me.
The supporters too.
So it's great to have the support of people. ”
And to conclude, in the form of a joke on the white hair that he will not have for a very long time: "Normally, we say that these are the worries, but here, I did not have much (smile)."
So many signs of affection that can augur good things for PSG, given its extension?
This is an other story.
In the meantime, there is a qualification to go for Tuesday, just to confirm the progress observed this week.
“This is not the time to stop,” insists Thomas Tuchel, in the form of a message to his group.
That's good, Kylian Mbappé does not intend to.
He is rather the type to move at 1000 per hour ...
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