Tuchel drools over ‘special’ star

– Kylian Mbappe’s excellent volley secured Paris Saint-Germain a hard-fought 1-0 win at Saint-Etienne on Sunday as the runaway Ligue 1 leaders moved 12 points clear at the summit.

The 20-year-old Mbappe (right) fired home his 19th goal of the campaign with 17 minutes remaining.

“He (Mbappe) shows his quality every day in training, he has this hunger to score,” said coach Thomas Tuchel. “It’s his quality. He is a special player.”

Mbappe has now scored 45 goals for PSG since signing from Monaco at the start of last season.

With a second straight French title all but secured, Tuchel’s men, who also have two games in hand on second-placed Lille, now have their eyes on breaking

Paris

their own record tally of 96 points set in 2015-16.

PSG fashioned their first clear-cut chance in the 18th minute, as Julian Draxler turned and fired over the crossbar after a fine exchange of passes with Dani Alves.

Mbappe saw a shot well saved by home goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier in an underwhelming first half.

The visitors always appeared in control of the game, but Draxler wasted another golden chance to put them ahead shortly after the restart when he was denied by a sprawling Ruffier stop.

Angel di Maria dragged an effort wide as PSG continued to plug away.

The opener arrived in the 73rd minute, as Alves picked out the run of Mbappe, and the Frenchman caught out Ruffier with a fine first-time volley on the turn.

Saint-Etienne started to show more ambition with time running out, but the best they could muster was Kevin Monnet-Paquet’s long-range strike which flew harmlessly over.

A late set-piece came to nothing for Les Verts, as PSG sealed a 20th win from only 23 Ligue 1 games this term. –