Mbappé speaks with Neymar after much-discussed images from the dug-out

Monday, September 27, 2021 at 5:27 PM• Dominic Mostert

Mauricio Pochettino does not take too seriously an incident concerning Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in Saturday’s match between Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier (2-0). After Mbappe was substituted, he took a seat on the bench and complained to Idrissa Gueye about Neymar. The striker said frustrated that he did not get the ball from Neymar. According to Pochettino, the air has now been cleared.

“They are two fantastic guys,” the PSG coach emphasized on Monday at the press conference prior to the Champions League game against Manchester City. “Things like this happen between competitors. We all want to win.” There was a brief discussion internally about what happened. “The incident brought a lot to the outside world, but nothing was wrong internally. They spoke to each other and I also spoke to them. During training they laughed together again.”

As Mbappe took his seat on the bench, cameras caught him saying something like ‘he won’t give me the ball’, pointing to the pitch. With Neymar failing to serve Mbappe several times in the match at a great opportunity, the French press assumed he meant the Brazilian. In minute 66, Mbappé reacted very frustrated after such a moment. Pochettino’s words seem to confirm that it was indeed those two players. In the French reporting, it was also reported here and there that Mbappé used the French word “clochard” to describe Neymar, a swear word meaning something like “wanderer.”

French media assume that PSG can again have Lionel Messi at their disposal against Manchester City. The attacker was left with a bone bruise from the won home game against Olympique Lyon (2-1) on Sunday 19 September. He therefore missed the league matches against FC Metz (1-2 win) and Montpellier (2-0 win). The Argentinian trained on Sunday and Monday. Pochettino ‘thinks’ Messi is indeed deployable, but has not yet decided whether to give his compatriot a starting spot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbpGyqlO88s

Kylian Mbappe reacted frustrated when Neymar did not serve him (minute 5:05).


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