Kylian Mbappe is BOOED by PSG fans amid claims the star wants to leave after Lionel Messi’s arrival… but Mauricio Pochettino insists he’s delighted with his ‘focused’ striker after goal in win over Strasbourg
- Kylian Mbappe was booed by PSG fans before the club’s 4-2 win over Strasbourg
- The French forward’s contract runs out next year and could move away from PSG
- Mbappe also missed the vital Euro 2020 penalty in the last-16 loss to Switzerland
- Mbappe went on to score in the Strasbourg victory to keep PSG top of Ligue 1
- Mauricio Pochettino claims he is ‘very happy’ with Mbappe’s efforts this season
Mauricio Pochettino admits he is ‘very happy’ with Kylian Mbappe’s commitment after the Paris Saint-Germain forward was booed by some of his own supporters on Saturday.
On the day PSG presented Lionel Messi to the Parc des Princes fans, Mbappe was jeered by sections of the Paris home crowd before kick-off in his side’s 4-2 league win over Strasbourg – which the French forward scored in.
Mbappe has been linked with a move away PSG with the Frenchman still yet to commit to an extension on his contract that ends in ten months from now, but PSG boss Pochettino claimed he did not hear any booing.
Mauricio Pochettino (left) is happy with Kylian Mbappe (right) despite PSG fans booing him
Mbappe was jeered by some of the PSG fans before kick-off when his name was read out
‘I did not hear the whistles,’ the Argentine said after the game. ‘I am very happy with him. He’s focused on what he needs to do and had a really good game. He must continue on this path.
‘It is very important for us to have our supporters around us. It’s extraordinary and we missed them dearly. Football is completely different with the spectators.
‘With the presentation of the newcomers, it was a great evening for PSG. Now, we have to prepare them (the new signings) gradually, without taking too many risks, whether it is Leo Messi or the others.’
The French forward reacted by scoring in PSG’s 4-2 win over Strasbourg on Saturday night
As well as Messi, PSG introduced fellow new signings Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Gini Wijnladum and Achraf Hakimi to their supporters, with the latter two playing in the victory over Strasbourg.
Mbappe, meanwhile, has continually been linked with a move to Real Madrid and will walk away from PSG for free next summer should he not agree a new deal at the club.
The 22-year-old was also the villain of French football earlier this summer when he missed the crucial spot-kick in France’s Euro 2020 last-16 exit to Switzerland in June.
Before the match, PSG presented their new signings to the fans, including Lionel Messi (right)
But PSG have remained confident in keeping Mbappe at the club, with club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi insisting he will stay in the French capital.
Speaking at Messi’s press conference: ‘Everyone knows the future of Mbappe. He is a PSG player.
‘Kylian is very competitive, he wants to win, he has publicly said that he does not want to leave the team and there are no doubts or excuses of any other kind. Mbappe stays’.
PSG continued their 100 per cent start to the Ligue 1 season by comfortably beating Strasbourg on Saturday night.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi (above) claimed Mbappe will remain a player at the club
Pochettino’s men raced into a three-goal lead after just 27 minutes with Mauro Icardi, Mbappe and Julian Draxler firing home.
Kevin Gameiro and Ludovic Ajorque pulled two goals back for Strasbourg after half-time to make matters nervous for PSG.
But a red card for visiting defender Alexander Dijku was followed by Pablo Sarabia’s points-clinching fourth goal with four minutes to go.