After Paris Saint – Germain eventually was eliminated from the Champions League during the last – 16 for the 5th – time over the course of the past 7 – years, Kylian Mbappé seemed to be not so surprised about that.
Media Statements
Upon him reflecting on PSG’s overall team effort resulting in a 3 to 0 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday, March 8th, 2023. The French – born striker frankly stated what was on everyone there’s mind, “This kind of performance against the biggest European teams is actually the maximum PSG can deliver.”
“I said it at the beginning of the season, in the first press conference of the season, that we were going to give our all. And that was our all … That’s the truth,” Mbappé said.
Even after 5 – years following him joining PSG, Mbappe has now played in 2 – times as many World Cup finals as he has played in the Champions League finals.
“We’re going to ask ourselves the tough questions and go back to our daily routine, which is the league,” Mbappé expressed.
What a Disappointment!
Because the cash – rich Qatari investors took control of PSG back in 2011, they have been a dominant force in France although they have consistently failed to reproduce that winning success on the European stage even though the Paris Saint – Germain football club spends extreme surpluses of money on huge big – name superstar footballers.
The one and only Champions League final that Paris Saint – Germain was able to make it to was in the pandemic – lessened format of the 2020 season, when it also featured the loss to Bayern Munich. Mbappé as well as Neymar (who cost a total of 402 million euros or $432 million) were both held scoreless in that specific contest.
Superstars not Holding their Value for PSG
Since playmakers such as Javier Pastore rose to be Paris Saint – Germain’s 1st – major signing for 42 million euros or $45 million back in the year of 2011. PSG’s total net spending has increased to over 1 billion euros or $1.1 billion. Even though the currency display has been quite extreme, Paris Saint – Germain has been unable to build a solid collective with complete depth on their bench, and instead they consistently rely on the individual skills of their very talented big – name superstars.
Back in the day it used to be Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but now it is dependent on Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar. Neymar is presently out due to an injury up until the end of the season, and he did not play in Munich this week, while Messi as well as Mbappé were silenced by the players of Bayern Munich.
In order to strengthen the football club, Paris Saint – Germain officials had previously discussed the possibility of employing a more versatile full – back as well as some new midfielders, with Aurélien Tchouaméni and Ousmane Dembélé supposedly were the names that came across the landscape last season.
However, none of them ultimately joined PSG while they once again missed out on the signing of the Inter Milan central defender in Milan Skriniar. During the winter transfer window, Paris Saint – Germain attempted to recruit Hakim Ziyech, but that loan move fell apart due to a late proposal of the necessary documents.
PSG vs. Bayern Munich
In Munich, Germany on Wednesday, March 8th, 2023 the insurmountable absence of the injured Presnel Kimpembeleft Paris Saint – Germain reliant upon the inexperienced 17 – year – old center back in El Chadaille Bitshiabufollowing Marquinhos as well as Nordi Mukiele both being subbed out for.
“PSG has one of the biggest budgets in Europe and there is no solution on the bench,” the former Paris Saint – Germain player in Edouard Cissé relayed through an interview with the L’Equipe newspaper.
In midfield, another teen in Warren Zaire – Emery was put in the match for the final 15 – minutes as he substituted for Fabian Ruiz.
“You have to turn the game around and you can only put in Zaire – Emery, who is my daughter’s age,” Cisse goes on to say. “You really have to ask yourself questions.”
Following PSG getting taken out of the French Cup by their French rival of Marseille last month, all that Paris Saint – Germain can do this season is possibly win the French league title. With just 12 – matches remaining for PSG to play they currently have an 8 – point advantage over Marseille.
“It’s a big disappointment,” the head coach of Paris Saint – Germain, Christophe Galtier, emphatically explained. “We have to deal with it and accept it. There’s a lot of disappointment in the dressing room. I don’t know if it’s a lesson to be learned, but there’s a lot of frustration.”
With Paris Saint – Germain’s consistency of regularly changing coaches, Galtier’s near future at the helm of the football club certainly looks grim, while Mbappé, who joined from Monaco back in 2017 when he was still a young teen, could be attracted to leave the squad if he feels that he is becoming a huge skill player that is being totally wasted.
“No, no, I’m calm,” Kylian Mbappe proclaimed after he was asked if the defeat versus Bayern Munich would have an influence on his future with Paris Saint – Germain. “My objective is to win the league, and then we’ll see.”
Childhood Dreams of Kylian Mbappé
Mbappé originally joined the Paris Saint Germain football club after leaving Monaco back in 2017 when he was still a youngster (teenager). Kylian has often stated that playing for Real Madrid has always been his childhood dream, and even when he signed his most recent contract extension, the French forward never ruled out making that move happen one day. Now may be that time especially while he is in the prime of his pro football career.
“What will happen in the future, I don’t know,” Kylian Mbappé said back in May of 2022 when he was thinking about a possible transfer.
Kylian Mbappé’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards
Monaco
- Ligue 1: 2016 – 2017
- Coupe de la Ligue Runner – Up: 2016 – 2017
Paris Saint – Germain
- Ligue 1: 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
- Coupe de France: 2017 – 2018, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021; Runner – Up: 2018 – 2019
- Coupe de la Ligue: 2017 – 2018, 2019 – 2020
- Trophée des Champions: 2019, 2020
- UEFA Champions League Runner – Up: 2019 – 2020
France U – 19
- UEFA European Under – 19 Championship: 2016
France
- FIFA World Cup: 2018
- UEFA Nations League: 2020 – 2021
Individual
- UEFA European Under – 19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2016
- UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2018 – 2019, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
- UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year: 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019
- UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
- UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: April 2017, March 2018, August 2018, February 2019, February 2021, August 2021, February 2022
- UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2016 – 2017, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021
- UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2021 – 2022
- FIFA FIFPro World11: 2018, 2019
- Golden Boy: 2017
- FIFA World Cup Young Player Award: 2018
- FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2018
- Kopa Trophy: 2018
- IFFHS Men’s World Team: 2018, 2021
- French Player of the Year: 2018, 2019
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2018
- Ligue 1 Top Goal Scorer: 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
- Ligue 1 Top assist provider: 2021 – 2022
- Globe Soccer Best Player of the Year: 2021
- Onze de Bronze: 2019
- UEFA Nations League Finals Golden Boot: 2021
Orders
- Knight of the Legion of Honor: 2018
Lionel Messi’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards
Barcelona
- La Liga (10): 2004 – 2005, 2005 – 2006, 2008 – 2009, 2009 – 2010, 2010 – 2011, 2012 – 2013, 2014 – 2015, 2015 – 2016, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019
- Copa del Rey (7): 2008 – 2009, 2011 – 2012, 2014 – 2015, 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2020 – 2021
- Supercopa de España (8): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018
- UEFA Champions League: 2005 – 2006, 2008 – 2009, 2010 – 2011, 2014 – 2015
- UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
Paris Saint – Germain
- Ligue 1: 2021 – 2022
- Trophée des Champions: 2022
Argentina U – 20
- FIFA World Youth Championship: 2005
Argentina U – 23
- Summer Olympics: 2008
Argentina
- FIFA World Cup: 2022
- Copa América: 2021
- CONMEBOL – UEFA Cup of Champions: 2022
Individual
- Ballon d’Or / FIFA Ballon d’Or (7): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021
- FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
- The Best FIFA Men’s Player: 2019
- European Golden Shoe (6): 2009 – 2010, 2011 – 2012, 2012 – 2013, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2018 – 2019
- FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014, 2022
- FIFA World Cup Silver Boot: 2022
- FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009, 2011
- FIFA U – 20 World Cup Golden Ball: 2005
- FIFA U – 20 World Cup Golden Boot: 2005
- Copa América Best Player: 2015, 2021
- Copa América Top Goalscorer: 2021
- La Liga Best Player (6): 2008 – 2009, 2009 – 2010, 2010 – 2011, 2011 – 2012, 2012 – 2013, 2014 – 2015
- Pichichi Trophy (8): 2009 − 2010, 2011 – 2012, 2012 − 2013, 2016 – 2017, 2017 − 2018, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021
- Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2020
- Argentine Footballer of the Year (14): 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Sources:
Petrequin, Samuel. “PSG shows limits in yet another early Champions League exit”. The Associated Press. Wednesday, March 8, 2023.
Football Reference News Services. “Kylian Mbappé”. Football Reference. Thursday, March 9, 2023.
Football Reference News Services. “Lionel Messi”. Football Reference. Thursday, March 9, 2023.