Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier praised Kylian Mbappe’s performance and focus during the match once morest Benfica in the Champions League, despite “surprising” reports regarding the player’s desire to leave Saint-Germain once more.
Mbappe opened the scoring for PSG in the 40th minute from a penalty kick, becoming the team’s most prominent scorer in the Champions League record.
Then, Joao Mario equalized for Benfica from a penalty kick in the 62nd minute, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
This came a few hours following the publication of reports indicating that Mbappe asked once more to leave Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappe, 23, who won the 2018 World Cup in Russia with the French national team, signed a new three-year contract with Saint-Germain last May, but it was reported that he is in a state of instability once more in light of his failure to meet his tactical requirements.
Paris Saint-Germain adviser Louis Campos denied these reports, stressing that Mbappe had not informed the club of such a thing, and Galtier also expressed his surprise at the rumors.
Galtier said in statements to RMC Sport following Tuesday’s match: We talked a lot regarding him this evening. I didn’t speak to him regarding it, as the goal was to keep the focus in the match.
He added: “He did a lot and showed that he is a great player, focusing on the match and the tournament. We all focused on the match.
He continued: From rumors, we make information, and from information we issue data. I find it very surprising that this was echoed a few hours before a very important match.
Mbappe’s goal alone was not enough to seal Saint-Germain’s qualification to the round of 16, as Saint-Germain leads Group H with eight points and a goal difference only once morest Benfica, followed by Juventus and Maccabi Haifa with three points each, with two rounds of group stage matches remaining.
