Special envoy to Marseille
Kylian Mbappé, the return?
In any case, the dynamics are good.
And it bodes well for a little over a week before the knockout stages of the Champions League, on the ground of FC Barcelona.
In the hard these last weeks, in the game and the numbers too, the 22-year-old world champion is finding color, little by little, match after match, week after week.
Author of a double against Montpellier (4-0) and scorer against Nîmes Olympique (3-0) in 2021, Mbappé once again found the net on Sunday, in Marseille (0-2).
Fast as lightning, he took advantage of a perfect serve from Angel Di Maria to stand alone against Steve Mandanda, whom he cheated on the left from the 9th minute of play. Kylian Mbappé pure juice.
And the sixth goal of the person in total against Olympique de Marseille, as much of Pedro Miguel Pauleta.
Mbappé's goal against Marseille last Sunday (0-2)
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"I manage to finish my meetings better, I'm less at the end of my rope"
Kylian Mbappé
“The sensations come back, because I also continue.
I manage to finish the meetings better, I am less at the end of the roll and it is all "benef" for the future.
Hoping to gain momentum, ”he slips on
Canal +
, he who is as lucid about his performance when he is good as when he is not.
"I know how to look at myself in a mirror", he said after Montpellier, already foreseeing that things would go "better and better".
Well seen.
Left then in the axis
Admittedly, all was not perfect against OM, with some inaccuracies and finally only one small shot on goal.
He could probably have afforded at least one more at the end of the game, brilliant by excess of altruism for Neymar.
With more than 60% of duels won, several bleeding “runs” and a willingness to play simple, Mbappé, who started on the left side in Mauricio Pochettino's 4-2-3-1 before being replaced alone in the axis at the exit of Mauro Icardi, however largely answered present.
The glass half full.
"
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It was better, knowing that Neymar Jr had to start on the bench because of gastro and that Angel Di Maria came out in the 11th minute of play, hit in the thigh.
“I am very happy with Kylian's performance, but also with the whole team, a very solid performance,” emphasizes Mauricio Pochettino.
And we got what we came for, victory.
We know the importance of this derby for the supporters and the club. "
Especially since it was the 100th duel in history between the “two best enemies” of French football.
In the end, despite a few air holes here and there, Mbappé has a record of 16 goals in 20 Ligue 1 matches this season, and 18 goals in 26 matches in all competitions.
Not bad for a player who alternates between the good and the less good since the recovery, he who was injured and affected by the Covid-19.
“We were able to score very early in the game.
Then the match closed, but we made the break, he analyzes.
We controlled in the second half.
It was a serious game.
We go home with the three points, we are happy. "
Three precious points, because Lille and Lyon, respectively first and second in the Ligue 1 standings with 54 and 52 points, are not slowing the pace.
Paris Saint-Germain (51 pts) is third.
"Unfortunately, we left dots everywhere ..."
Kylian Mbappé
Suddenly, no question of letting go to think of Barça.
“Unfortunately, we left points everywhere (smile), so we have to focus on the next game each time, admits Mbappé.
The other years, we could have focused on the C1, but there, we must really be focused on the championship because we did not make the difference, we are in fact behind.
We really have to focus on the championship but it might not be worse: it means that we will play with intensity.
And by dint of playing matches with intensity, you are less surprised when you arrive in the Champions League. ”
Neymar soon extended, suspense for Mbappé
Remember that Parisians and Barcelona will face each other on February 16 at Camp Nou, then on March 10, at the Parc des Princes.
A double-confrontation that we imagine rich in emotions for Neymar Jr ... Which Neymar has declared his love for PSG in recent days, he whose officialization is expected very soon.
“This is great news.
Everyone knows the importance of this player.
That a player like Neymar wants to stay at PSG is great news for us.
I hope he will be able to write history for many more years within this club.
He and the club deserve it, ”assures Mbappé, without saying more about his own future.
The last time he spoke about it, it was to say to himself "in full reflection".
Against Barça, this will not be the time to think, but to perform.
Especially if Angel Di Maria were to forfeit.
But that, Mbappé knows it well… Until then, the “Kid de Bondy” will have the opportunity to continue to move upmarket in Caen (L2) in the Coupe de France on Wednesday, and against Nice, three days later, in Paris.
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