Filmed as he stepped off the Paris Saint-Germain bus, Kylian Mbappé waved to a few supporters before heading straight to the Parisian locker room with a bad day face. Three days earlier in the decider against Real Sociedad, Bondinois may have just learned that he will not start against FC Nantes. Extremely rare, Mbappé played his second Ligue 1 match in a row, starting on the sidelines after Lille’s welcome on 10 February.
An absence that gets people talking
A small event after the matches Mbappé plays in the championship is now his last event in L1 after the unofficial announcement of his big departure. Another small surprise detail: for the first time this season, supporters of the capital club did not receive a red and blue group before the match. Obviously highly anticipated, will the 2018 World Champion be nailed on the bench, as he was against LOSC (as a precaution)? The face shown by the French champions at Beaujolais was in any case similar to that of the future PSG with a few exceptions (Dembele, Hakimi). Without Mbappé.
While his team-mates mastered the leather, but did not create any clear-cut chances, Bondinois appeared to be all smiles alongside Hakimi when he was in the camera lens. We had to wait until the hour mark for the number 7 to come off his tracksuit (along with Hakimi and Dembele). After becoming captain following the exit of Marquinhos (in the 70th), the future ex-Parisian did not particularly stand out. But once again, even when he’s discreet, Mbappé manages to make a difference.
Substitute, but crucial
In the 76th minute, he won a penalty after being fouled by Douglas. A sentence that he was responsible for change without trembling, despite the Bronca of Beaujoyer (77th). His 13th away goal in L1, more than any other player in the European Big 5. The French striker, author of the break goal for PSG, then finished his match, handing his jersey to the Ile-de-France supporters before walking out. Not a word for the media. Passing through the mixed zone, Danilo Pereira was logically questioned about this very significant selection. Was he surprised by Mbappé’s absence at kick-off? “No, not at all because he has played a lot of matches. It is normal that he has to rest.”.
A speech shared by Luis Enrique moments later at a press conference. “It is both easy and difficult to explain. We played a Champions League match two days ago, we needed energy to perform. It was important to give minutes to those who did not participate. You know, we have ambitious goals. We need our All the players will be needed”. The latter dispelled any misunderstandings by those who believed the Spaniard had taken the decision to “punish” Bondinois after announcing his selection.
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