PARIS, Mar 04 (AFP): Paris Saint-Germain's preparations for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 second leg away to Real Sociedad have been overshadowed by coach Luis Enrique's handling of star man Kylian Mbappe.
PSG have suffered numerous humiliating defeats at this stage of the Champions League in recent years but they are ideally placed to advance to the quarter-finals this time after winning 2-0 at home to the Basque side in last month's first leg.
Mbappe scored the opening goal in that game but the following day the superstar striker informed PSG of his intention to leave when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.
Luis Enrique might have been expected to make the most of being able to call on Mbappe until then, but instead he has made a point of reducing his top scorer's playing time.
Mbappe was left on the bench for PSG's next game at Nantes, although he came on to score a penalty in a 2-0 win.
A week later he started as captain at home against Rennes, but was substituted on 65 minutes. His replacement Goncalo Ramos went on to score the equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
Mbappe has made almost 300 appearances for PSG since arriving from Monaco in 2017, but he had only previously been taken off earlier in a game either due to injury or with PSG already winning.
Yet last Friday he was hooked at half-time in a 0-0 draw at Monaco, and once again there was no question of him being injured or even of Luis Enrique trying to save his superstar for the Champions League.
"Sooner or later we are going to have to play without him, so I am trying to find the best way of doing so," the coach said.
His comments came after he pointedly declared in a press conference last week that PSG would have "a much better team" next season, by which time Mbappe is expected to be playing for Real Madrid.
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