Willful but clumsy, Kylian Mbappé concluded his Parisian saga of seven seasons with an average match on Saturday in the Coupe de France final against Lyon (2-1), a few days before his expected arrival at Real Madrid.
Absent during the last two Ligue 1 matches at the initiative of his coach, and seen on the Croisette, in Cannes, last weekend, Kylian Mbappé seemed to have his mind elsewhere lately.
And there was the feeling that the player had to redeem himself on Saturday after his average performances in the Champions League, notably during the elimination in the League semi-final against Dortmund in early May.
Mbappé also admitted half-heartedly to the press after the match: a final final, “we have time to think and that’s never good for a footballer”, but “no matter what happens past, we try to give the full measure”.
Because the Kylian Mbappé version 2023-2024 was not the one from previous seasons, on whom the controversies were based and who responded without firing a shot on the pitch. From the outset on Saturday evening, he appeared with a closed face in front of the cameras in the corridor leading to the pitch, even though he knows perfectly well the feeling of a Coupe de France final, which he has just won for a fourth time.
His match was a litany of missed goals, between bad choices, clumsiness and technical inaccuracies.
At the kick-off, launched straight away on the left side, he got his brushes tangled in his center. And he was half a second late to cut Lucas Beraldo’s header at the far post which followed from the corner.
A few moments later, wanting to finish strong a slalom from Ousmane Dembélé, Mbappé this time shot well above.
Guardianship
Lyon’s Jake O’Brien was also able to contain him when he was launched from deep (19th). Depth is normally her domain, but the superstar confirmed that she has not been so comfortable with the exercise in recent months. A sprint started from his camp in the middle of the second half ended with a missed recovery on a magnificent cross from Dembélé.
His strikes were generally harmless, very often blocked by Lyon (60th, 71st…) or off target (85th), while the attacker always took pride in deceiving everyone with his knowledge of bluffing and his gestures. lightning.
His dribbles also came up short, like when Corentin Tolisso easily caught him as he tried to infiltrate the center, just before the break.
Visibly frustrated, Mbappé repeatedly summoned his partners, Ousmane Dembélé, Fabian Ruiz and Bradley Barcola.
A sign that he soon feels free from the cumbersome tutelage of his elder, Barcola in return allowed himself to get annoyed at the start of the second half, after seeing his tense cross pass in front of everyone and especially in front of Kylian Mbappé, poorly placed in the surface.
Established in the center, the native of Bondy has in fact had the greatest difficulty playing center forward, he who could however also have to play in this position at Real Madrid — the left wing being currently occupied by the sparkling Vinicius.
As a passing of the baton, Kylian Mbappé appeared to watch Bradley Barcola, 21, set fire to the left flank of the Lyon defense, as he had so often done in previous seasons.
For the captain of the Blues and top scorer in the history of Paris SG, it was the last match of a season which ended with a cup-championship double.
At the final whistle, he went to hug his teammates, and even Luis Enrique, who often truncated his playing time in the second half of the season, was entitled to his hug. “I was lucky to coach him,” the coach said after the game. “Don’t forget, there is no replacement for Kylian Mbappé!”
The attacker, a broad smile crossing his face, was carried in triumph by his partners.
And without mentioning his average match, he assured: “Me and Paris SG are finished, we leave with our heads held high”.
