Mbappe’s request to Galtier that upsets Messi and Neymar

Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier has played down criticism from Kylian Mbappe. The player had previously been open in criticising his role at his club, claiming he gets far more joy playing behind a central striker like Olivier Giroud than as the centre-forward himself. “I spoke a lot with Kylian at the start of the season and I was very attentive to his comments when he was playing for France, saying that he felt better in Les Bleus' attacking set-up,” Galtier conceded.

“Across pre-season we spoke with Luís Campos and the president to get a fourth striker, with a different profile, who would allow for two strikers and for Kylian to play as much as possible in his preferred area. Kylian sometimes finds himself in the middle and he gets the impression that he's a pivot. But he's a smart player who's capable of adapting,” Galtier explained. Mbappe's displeasure at his position cannot be affecting his game too much, having scored 11 goals in 13 games. 

More related stories:

After kicking him out, the low blow that the Barça fans wanted to give to Messi

Not even with Messi, the last whim of 50 million that PSG would fulfill to Mbappe

Infamously, he is yet to assist any of his teammates. He previously stated his desire to play behind a central striker, as he does for his country, after a 2-0 win over Austria in a September Nations League clash. He told reporters, “I play differently, they ask me other things here than they ask me at the club. I have a lot more freedom here. The coach knows that there is a number 9 like Olivier who occupies the defences. Me, I can walk around, go into space, ask for the balls."

What Mbappe wants he gets

“In Paris, it’s different there isn’t that, I’m asked to do the pivot, it’s different,” he complained. The comments also once again bring the player's position of power at the club into conversation, having signed an eye-watering deal which earns him just shy of £2million-a-week. The subliminal message the club has sent to Mbappe is that what he wants he usually gets. Player power such as is seen in the French capital is not on display anywhere else.