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PSG boss Luis Enrique substituted Kylian Mbappe at half time, as he continues to prepare for life after the France captain.
Kylian Mbappe and Luis Enrique's tension is the talk of the town as the PSG star got benched again, this time just 45 minutes into the game against Monaco.
It's becoming clear that Enrique isn't planning to keep Mbappe as his main man on the pitch, pulling him off early for the second game in a row, replacing him with Randal Kolo Muani in a match that was still searching for its first goal.
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Enrique's Tactical Twists
The decision to sub Mbappe out, with no injury in sight, screams of tactical manoeuvres by Enrique, who seems to be bracing PSG for a future without their star forward. After yanking Mbappe off at the 65-minute mark against Rennes, Enrique did it again, even earlier, against Monaco.
The message is loud and clear: Enrique is getting PSG ready to roll without Mbappe, who's been heavily linked with a summer move to Real Madrid.
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Mbappe's Sideline Saga
Post-substitution, Mbappe wasn't just cooling his heels; he was out and about, chatting on his phone, engaging with fans, and signing autographs, all while the game was on. Then, in what could be seen as a silent protest or a hint at his imminent departure, he chose to watch the second half from the stands, next to his mom and agent, Fayza Lamari, rather than from the bench.
Enrique's earlier admission about wanting PSG to adapt to playing sans Mbappe hints at a widening rift, with the coach stating, "When I want to play like this, I will, when I don’t, I won’t."
Mbappe's future at PSG is hanging by a thread, with his move to Real Madrid almost a done deal. Yet, the fallout from his decision to ditch the dugout for the stands is still up in the air. Will PSG penalize their star? Only time will tell, but for now, the Mbappe-Enrique saga is adding an extra layer of drama to PSG's season.
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