It was in a store on the Champs-Élysées, as part of the “Victory Mode” event co-organized by Nike and its “Inspired By KM” foundation, that Kylian Mbappé spoke this Sunday. “We had this project for a year to organize a sporting challenge in Paris,” explains the PSG striker about this moment shared with many children in Paris. “They looked happy and fulfilled. What’s happening with them is what matters most to me today,” smiles Kylian Mbappé two days before the semi-final return against Dortmund.
Despite the stakes of the meeting, a place in the Champions League final, the native of Bondy was keen to be present at this event. “I have always said that this foundation was important to me. There is no better answer as to my involvement in coming here with the children before such an important match. I think it’s a message for them too, to tell them that no matter what happens on Tuesday, I’m here today. What’s going to happen on Tuesday, you’ll have to be there on Tuesday. Today is Sunday. »
“The children are right, we must win”
When asked if Tuesday’s match will “go well”, Kylian Mbappé responds in the positive. “I think, I think. I’m already in preparation. There is the player and the man. The man needs to prepare and it helps the player prepare to attend an event like that. I often got the same warning from children. I heard a lot of we must win ! And they are right, we must win! In any case, a day like this helps the man that I am flourish. And it’s certain that I will arrive at the match in a good mood, ready to defend the colors of my team and qualify us for the final. »
Kylian Mbappé admitted to having a lot of pressure on his shoulders ahead of the return match against Dortmund. “It’s normal because there is a place in the Champions League final, which is not negligible. Even more so when we know the club’s history in the competition. We are aware of the pressure but the group is extremely calm. We are confident and we are sure that we will recover this score and that we will qualify for the final. »
” Olympic Games ? I don’t think about it much.”
Asked about the two other major events awaiting him, the Euro in Germany (June 14 – July 14) and the Paris Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11), the Parisian striker recalled his current priority . “On the Olympic Games, my position has not changed,” recalls Mbappé, who had already said he wanted to participate in the Games with the French Olympic team this summer. “But the truth is also that it’s not my news. My news is Paris Saint-Germain. As I speak to you, the Olympics, I don’t think about it much,” confesses the Parisian, even though the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron assured that the player’s father told him that Kylian Mbappé had “ want” to take part in the Games.
Before potentially participating in the Games, Kylian Mbappé will travel to Germany to compete in the Euro with the France team, of which he is captain. “We are in continuity. I’m not going to throw away everything that happened before, it helped me become captain. It’s going to be a big competition for us. We are eagerly awaited and we really want to do something big,” Mbappé plans.
“First, we will have to recover all our players because there are still a few injured,” continues the number 10 of the Blues, in reference to the recent withdrawal of his teammate Lucas Hernandez. “But we will have time to prepare and try to make the French dream as we tried to do during the last competitions. » Le Parisien also confirmed that he will travel to Algeria, his mother’s country of origin, this summer with his foundation. “I hope to get there with the Champions League and the Euro in my pocket! », he smiles.
