Stronger without Mbappe? Luis Enrique's verdict after PSG's Champions League success

Kylian Mbappe's blockbuster move to Real Madrid was a setback for Paris Saint-Germain

Published on: Jun 1, 2025, 01:47:43 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Kylian Mbappe's blockbuster move to Real Madrid was a setback for Paris Saint-Germain. But Luis Enrique said that PSG is a much ‘stronger’ unit and the French outfit's 2-0 lead in the Champions League final against Inter Milan just speaks for the manager's confidence.

Kylian Mbappe's transfer was an opportunity for PSG manager Luis Enrique to promote other players (AFP)

Sans Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Achraf Hakimi powered PSG into the UCL final. The Moroccan put the Ligue 1 champs in front against Inter in the 12th minute before Desire Doue doubled their lead before half-time. Enrique, along with the players, celebrated the two strikes with excitement.

The former Barcelona manager took charge of PSG in July 2023, with a desire to deliver a Champions League title. Under the Spaniard, the team went from being underdogs to knocking out heavyweights like Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal en route to the final.

Explaining how Mbappe's departure impacted the squad, Enrique told TNT Sports: “I think it was a stimulus for all the team, for all the players, because we tried to manage the way we played. In that case, I have to say that everybody gets involved, everybody took the positive things.”

He further added that ‘as a team, we are very happy because I think we are better than last year on and off the ball, and that’s important to us’.

Handling Mbappe visibly frustrated Luis Enrique on several occasions. Clips of him asking the forward to commit defensively surfaced on social media. The manager was clearly urging PSG's then-star player to push his limits. The Ligue 1 outfit reached the UCL semifinals last season, but lost to Borussia Dortmund.

In 2024-25, Mbappe moved to Real Madrid, and Carlo Ancelotti also struggled with his non-commitment towards defense. Arsenal beat the Spanish giants in the quarterfinals, with a margin of 5-1 over two legs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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