‘Complete’ Mbappe praised after PSG win
Shaken Monaco face upbeat Montpellier
PARIS, Sept 28, (AFP): Kylian Mbappe was singled out for praise despite being the only member of Paris SaintGermain’s superstar attack who didn’t score in Wednesday’s big Champions League win over German giants Bayern Munich.
Dani Alves, Edinson Cavani and Neymar netted as PSG eased to a 3-0 victory at Parc des Princes to make it two wins from two games in Group B and take a huge step towards progressing to the last 16.
But Mbappe, with his frightening pace and skill, set up Cavani’s magnificent strike that made it 2-0 and left David Alaba for dead as he created Neymar’s goal in the second half.
“Kylian is progressing well. He has great talent and great desire to help the team grow,” said coach Unai Emery of the 18-year-old, who got the biggest roar of the night from the 45,000 home fans in the French capital when he made way for Angel di Maria late on.
“The idea when we signed him was that he would help the team grow and the team would help him grow too. His was a complete performance.”
The French teenager was making just his second appearance at Parc des Princes since arriving from Monaco on an initial loan deal that will become permanent next year, for a fee rising to 180 million euros ($211 million) with bonuses.
Only Neymar, at 222 million euros, will have cost more in the history of football and along with Cavani, PSG look to have a potentially Champions League-winning strike force.
But they will need to remain in this form and avoid the kind of tensions that marred the recent win over Lyon, when Cavani and Neymar argued over who should take a penalty.
“The expectations on us were big, which is normal after the transfer window,” Mbappe told Canal Plus. “It’s just the beginning. We wanted to put in a big performance against a great team and we did it.”
The ‘MCN’ attack have now scored 18 goals between them this season and they have also made PSG more adaptable, able to transform into a side that soaks up pressure before destroying opponents on the break.
“Normally we control games with possession against deep-lying defences. Today they defended higher and had the ball but we controlled the game without it,” said Emery, whose side have scored eight goals and conceded none in two European outings.
French champions Monaco may be reeling from a midweek Champions League thumping but Montpellier are wary of a backlash heading into their Ligue 1 clash in the principality on Friday.
Monaco, bottom of their Champions League group with just a single point after two matches, are second in France, one point behind Paris SaintGermain who host third-placed Bordeaux on Saturday.
Montpellier, the surprise 2012 Ligue 1 champions, held PSG to a 0-0 draw last weekend, and will look to inflict more pain on Monaco, who are licking their wounds from a 3-0 home defeat by Porto on Tuesday.
“It was a difficult match. It’s hard to explain what happened,” said Radamel Falcao, who has yet to fire in Europe this season despite his remarkable return of 11 goals in seven matches in the league.
“There’s frustration because we had chances, but Porto scored first and then gave a very tactically sound performance. We have to stay strong and tough mentally.”
Falcao has scored in all but one of Monaco’s domestic fixtures this term to fuel his side’s strong start, but the sale of Kylian Mbappe, Bernardo Silva, Benjamin Mendy and Tiemoue Bakayoko still looms large at the Stade Louis II.
“We’re a good team as well and we have confidence that we can change things,” said Brazilian midfielder Fabinho. “We’ve lost important players and we’re still lacking something. We need to look at that in training and try to help the new players.”
Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim challenged his players to deliver an immediate response following the Porto setback.
“We’re used to reacting well. Whether we win or not, the team has always done it. That’s our goal,” said Jardim. “Before (Tuesday’s) match we weren’t the best team, and we’re not the worst now.”
Montpellier coach Michel Der Zakarian is hoping to frustrate another of the league’s heavyweights for the second week running but expects a tougher evening in Monaco.
“The match against Monaco will be harder than the PSG game,” said Der Zakarian, whose side have taken eight points from seven matches while conceding just five goals.
“We know this is going to be difficult, that the team will have to pull together and keep the lines tight with a collective spirit, just like in the last two games.”