18 November 2023 , 19:06
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Paris Saint-Germain and France forward Kylian Mbappe insists Luis Enrique will have "no problem" with him after the manager picked holes in his hat-trick display against Reims.
Mbappe scored all three of PSG's goals in their final Ligue 1 game before the international break, but still received criticism from the manager for his teamwork. Former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique pledged to speak to the player privately about what he can do better.
Speaking to the media ahead of France 's Euro 2024 qualifier against Gibraltar, Mbappe was asked about the manager's comments. And, rather than sidestepping the question, he opened up on his relationship with the Spaniard.
"You’d have to ask him about the timing [of his criticism]," Mbappe said," as translated by 90min. "I took it well, he’s a great coach and has a lot to teach me. From day one, I told him he’d have no problem with me.
"I’ve always worked well with the coaches I’ve had, like Didier Deschamps, Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel and so on. These are coaches who have spoken to me 'badly', so to speak – but it didn’t stop me form playing well and having a good relationship with them.
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"I’m a player who’s very demanding of himself, so when I find that demand from my coaches then I’m very happy. I don’t need my manager to tell me I’m the best player in the world every day."
Was Luis Enrique right to criticise Kylian Mbappe? Have your say in the comments section
Kylian Mbappe scored all three PSG goals as they beat Reims (AFP via Getty Images)Mbappe continues to be linked with a move away from Paris, despite continuing to bang in the goals for his club. He leads the Ligue 1 goal charts with 13 in 11 appearances, adding two more in the Champions League group stages, but PSG's manager still has high expectations.
"I'm not really happy with Kylian Mbappe today," Luis Enrique said after the Reims game. "I have nothing to say about the goals. But he can help the team more, in a different way.
"I'll talk to him about it first. Kylian is one of the best in the world. But we need more. We want him to do more."
Real Madrid have long been linked with a swoop, but in early November the Spanish club denied they had been in negotiations with Mbappe. The 24-year-old's current PSG contract expires at the end of this season, though he holds an option to extend the deal by a further year.
"Given the information recently issued and published by different media outlets, in which there is speculation about alleged negotiations between the player Kylian Mbappé and our club, Real Madrid CF would like to state that this information is completely false and that no such negotiations have taken place. with a player who belongs to PSG," Los Blancos' statement read.