Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) 2-0 victory over Olympique Marseille in Sunday's Classico has been overshadowed by the drama surrounding star forward Kylian Mbappé, who was visibly upset after being substituted in the 65th minute. The 25-year-old's cryptic Instagram post following the match has sparked speculation about his future at the club, as he is set to leave PSG in June when his contract expires.
Mbappé, who was leading the side in the absence of the injured Marquinhos, was taken off with PSG leading 1-0 thanks to Vitinha's 52nd-minute opener. The forward was clearly unhappy with the decision and was seen trudging back to the bench, failing to make contact with coach Luis Enrique. Later, on Instagram, Mbappé uploaded a photo of himself from behind, armband in hand, in the rain, at the moment of substitution, which generated a stir on social media.
The Frenchman's last full game with PSG came on matchday 26 against Montpellier, where he scored a hat-trick in a 6-2 victory. Since it was confirmed in mid-February that he will not renew his contract, Luis Enrique has been using him sparingly in Ligue 1, aware that the team must adapt to playing without its best player.
During his post-match press conference, Luis Enrique reiterated that his decisions are intended to "seek the best for the team," adding that he is "tired of always being asked about the same thing." The Spaniard told broadcaster Prime Video, "Frankly, it's boring. I'm the coach of the club and I make the decisions. And that is exactly what I'll keep doing while I'm here."
Despite the victory, which kept PSG 12 points clear at the top of the standings with seven games remaining, the focus has been on Mbappé's goal drought and his reaction to being substituted. The forward has now gone three games without scoring, including France's friendly matches against Germany and Chile during the international break.
However, Mbappé is likely to play a crucial role in PSG's upcoming matches, as the club pursues an unprecedented triple crown. On Wednesday, PSG will face Rennes in the Coupe de France semi-final, seeking to reach the final for the first time since winning the trophy in 2021. Three days later, they host bottom-of-the-table Clermont in Ligue 1 before welcoming Barcelona to the Parc des Princes for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on April 10.
PSG's Qatari owners, QSI, have prioritized winning the Champions League since taking control of the club in 2011, but successive high-profile managers have failed to satisfy this craving. Luis Enrique, who steered Barcelona to the Champions League title in 2015, has taken a no-nonsense approach, stating that fixating on glory in the tournament is unhealthy for a club.
"When any person, or any club, becomes obsessed with something, it is not a good sign," Enrique said at the start of the Champions League group stages. "We need to be hopeful, ambitious too, but becoming obsessed does not work in any area of life."
As PSG navigates the final stages of the season, the relationship between Luis Enrique and Mbappé will be under scrutiny. The coach's decisions to substitute the star player in crucial matches and the forward's apparent dissatisfaction have raised questions about the team's harmony as they chase an unprecedented treble.
Despite the off-field drama, PSG remains on course to claim a 10th Ligue 1 crown in the 13 years since QSI's takeover, and the club's supporters will be hoping that the team can maintain its focus on the pitch as they pursue glory in the Coupe de France and the Champions League.
