Mbappé is back. The French player came off the bench again, but improved on his performance against Juventus. Against Borussia, he found the net and improved his performance, but he still needs to adjust to Xabi Alonso‘s new model, which requires pressing and defending from the front line. Once again, the coach will have the difficult task of choosing between the Frenchman and Gonzalo for the semi-finals against PSG. Given the special nature of the match for Mbappé and his progress with several days of training still to go, the player is likely to start, but we will have to see what the coach does, as he has already shown that no one is untouchable.
Mbappé’s match
Xabi Alonso is making it clear that he is looking first at what is best for the team and not at names. Meritocracy prevails, and right now a Gonzalo in fine form and with his eye for goal is ahead of a Mbappé who is still recovering, which is why the youth player started and the Frenchman came off the bench.
The coach brought him on in the 67th minute and he looked much better than against Juventus, although he is still not at his best.
The Frenchman scored his 44th goal of the season in the match against Borussia. He did so with a great goal in injury time. The Frenchman received a brilliant cross from Arda Güler with his left foot and didn’t think twice: scissor kick and 3-1 for the Whites. A goal dedicated to Diogo Jota. Beyond the goal, he didn’t have his usual sparkle, but he did improve his performance on the road to recovery. He still has to continue working with Xabi Alonso on improving his pressing and his commitment defensively.
Xabi’s plan
Throughout the week of training, Xabi Alonso has been very attentive to the French player, even working with him individually to reinforce concepts and help him regain his form after several weeks out of the team with acute gastroenteritis. The weeks without work and the physical decline mean that the player is still in the process of reaching 100% of his level, as the coach himself acknowledges. “I see him well, he’s not perfect. He’s not 100% yet, there are days when he feels better for the semifinals.”
The semi-finals will be special for the player, who will face his former team, PSG. Xabi Alonso will have to make another decision between Mbappé and Gonzalo, but everything points to the fact that if the player continues to improve in the remaining days of training, it could be time for him to return to the starting line-up. In the coming days, he must continue to catch up with his teammates, and Xabi Alonso has to emphasize this. The team is starting to put pressure on like it hasn’t done in years, and the French striker needs to get up to speed and adjust those little details. He still has his scoring touch, as he showed in last night’s game. There are three days left before the July 9 game against PSG, and it’s time to get to work.