‘Kylian Mbappe won’t have fun’ – Thomas Muller warns Bayern have special ‘plan’ for PSG talisman in Champions League decider
Thomas Muller issued a warning to Kylian Mbappe ahead of Bayern Munich’s crunch Champions League last-16 return leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
K. MbappéT. MüllerPSGBayern MünchenBayern München vs PSGUEFA Champions League
WHAT HAPPENED? The Ligue 1 side travel to Germany on Wednesday needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in which Mbappe, freshly recovered from a hamstring problem, caused havoc of the bench but saw his two second-half strikes disallowed for offside. Ahead of more mayhem against PSG’s star forward, Muller ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟᴇᴅ that the Frenchman “won’t have fun” if their tactical plan is implemented correctly.
WHAT THEY SAID: “Kylian, by his profile, logically represents a ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ,” the German told reporters ahead of the match. “He is the player who scores the most for PSG. We have to think about how to stop him, but this is a team sport. It’s not a question of stopping one player. We have to reduce his space in the middle and we are brave enough to go one-on-one with him. If he passes a first player, there will be another one behind. The whole world loves to watch him play football, but tomorrow we won’t want to watch him. If our plan is effective, he won’t have fun.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Since the first leg in Paris, Mbappe has been on fire for the capital side, recording a staggering five goals and one assist in three matches as PSG now sit eight points clear at the Ligue 1 summit. Bayern, meanwhile, hold on to top spot in the Bundesliga by goal difference over Borussia Dortmund, but will be boosted by the absence of Neymar, whose season now looks in doubt after needing ankle surgery for an injury sustained in mid-February.
IN THREE PHOTOS:
DID YOU KNOW? In six Champions League meetings with Bayern, Mbappe has recorded three goals and one assist, but has been on the losing side four times (having won just twice).
WHAT NEXT? Attention will turn to domestic matters when Wednesday’s blockbuster European clash reaches its conclusion. Bayern host Augsburg on Saturday, while PSG travel to Brest on the same day.
Mbappe raises PSG confidence prior to Bayern Munich important battlҽ
Mbappe has been backed by PSG manager to turn tonight’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich on its head. Galtier acknowledged that Neymar’s absence makes his team “more balanced.”
The Ligue 1 team must overcome a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in order to advance to the quarterfinals.
Mbappe was limited to a half-hour substitute appearance in last month’s loss in Paris due to a hamstring injury, but has since scored five goals in three League starts.
We must play more football in the second leg than we did in the first. We have a game plan and Kylian,” added Galtier. “He provides us more room to maneuver behind the pack. We must also recover the ball much more quickly.”
Mbappe has emphasized this week that his future is not contingent on tonight’s result, with PSG still seeking a first Champions League title after losing the 2020 final to Bayern Munich
“Had I tied my future to winning the Champions League, without disrespecting the club, I would have left a long time ago,” stated the 24-year-old. “I do not believe this match will have any significance. I am present and delighted to be here. I am solely concerned with the success of PSG.”
Neymar has been declared out for the remainder of the season after sustaining ligament damage in his ankle during last month’s ᴛʜʀɪʟʟɪɴɢ 4-3 victory against Lille.
Clearly, that is a loss, said Galtier. “Is the team more symmetrical? Yes. Is it better this way? I will say that having him improves our chances of scoring goals.”