Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier acknowledged Kylian Mbappe’s claims he has more freedom playing for France, admitting the star forward’s club role is “more restricted”.
Mbappe drew attention with his remarks after scoring in last week’s 2-0 win over Austria in the UEFA Nations League as France narrowly avoided relegation from the top tier. The 23-year-old said he was asked “to do different things” for France, where he played alongside Olivier Giroud in the absence of Karim Benzema, than with PSG.
“His analysis is right. He’s not in the same set-up with us as he is in the national team,” Galtier told reporters yesterday. “He’s certainly much more restricted up front with us, given the type of players we have, but I don’t think he has less freedom.”
Galtier said the fact PSG didn’t sign a classic centre-forward in the summer meant Mbappe had become more of a focal point in the attack who brings Lionel Messi and Neymar into play. “We were convinced we needed a fourth player with a different profile, to have different solutions and options. This player never arrived, it’s a shame but that’s how it is,” said Galtier, whose unbeaten side are two points clear of Marseille at the top of Ligue 1. “Mbappe has this type of player in the France team with Olivier Giroud. We don’t have the same but we have other profiles.”
Mbappe has to share the limelight at his club with Messi and Neymar, with the Brazilian currently their top scorer ahead of tomorrow’s game at home to Nice.
Galtier faces his former club Nice for the first time since moving to the capital. PSG failed to score in three meetings with Nice last season, including during their surprise French Cup exit, but have been finding the net for fun this term.
The front three of Mbappe, Neymar and Messi have 27 goals between them already this campaign and all of the trio also scored for their countries during the recent international break. Despite a flying start to their Ligue 1 title defence with seven wins and one draw, Galtier’s men only boast a two-point lead over rivals Marseille. The southerners could take top spot today when they visit Angers.
PSG will be hoping for a routine victory ahead of their top-of-the-table Group H clash at Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday. Nice, backed by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, were expecting to challenge for the top three this season after a transfer window which saw Kasper Schmeichel, Aaron Ramsey and Ross Barkley among the players to arrive at the Allianz Riviera.
But under new coach Lucien Favre, in his second spell in charge, the ambitious club have mustered just two wins in eight matches and sit only two points clear of the relegation zone.
Marseille, meanwhile, have prospered under new boss Igor Tudor and remain unbeaten. Alexis Sanchez has scored four goals in seven league appearances since his move from Inter Milan and on-loan Arsenal player Nuno Tavares has netted three times from full-back. OM, without a French league title since 2010, have given themselves an outside chance of stunning PSG and going one better than last season’s runner-up finish.
Fixtures (times GMT)
Today: Angers v Marseille (1900)
Tomorrow: Strasbourg v Rennes (1300), Paris Saint-Germain v Nice (1900)
Sunday: Lorient v Lille (1100), Ajaccio v Clermont, Auxerre v Brest, Toulouse v Montpellier, Troyes v Reims (all 1300), Monaco v Nantes (1505), Lens v Lyon (1845)
Kylian Mbappe
