PSG’s Enrique evades Mbappe talk ahead of Real Madrid Club World Cup semi

PSG manager Luis Enrique refused to remark connected ex-player Kylian Mbappe earlier his side’s semifinal against Real Madrid.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) manager Luis Enrique refused to beryllium drawn into comparisons betwixt his UEFA Champions League-winning squad and the squad that antecedently featured Kylian Mbappe, up of Wednesday’s FIFA Club World Cup semifinal clash with his erstwhile star’s caller nine Real Madrid.

“This is simply a question astir the past and I’m not present to speech astir the past, I’m lone reasoning astir the future,” Luis Enrique told a quality league connected Tuesday erstwhile asked if his PSG are a amended squad present without Mbappe.

Enrique coached Mbappe during his last run successful Paris successful the 2023-24 season, a turbulent twelvemonth successful which the France skipper was initially sidelined from the squad for refusing to motion a caller declaration and aboriginal utilized sparingly aft making it wide helium would depart.

“All I tin accidental is that [Mbappe’s last play astatine PSG] belongs successful the past, it is down america now,” added Enrique.

The Spanish manager did admit that facing his erstwhile superstar subordinate adds spice to the encounter, saying that “playing against the astir palmy squad successful the world” is “definitely other motivation”.

Enrique’s PSG volition look Mbappe for the archetypal clip since the French superstar near the Paris-based nine for Real Madrid successful June 2024 [File: Etsuo Hara/Getty Images]

PSG volition again person to contend with brutal conditions successful New Jersey, with an day kickoff successful scorching vigor aft temperatures successful Tuesday’s semifinal betwixt Chelsea and Fluminense soared past 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) with implicit 54 percent humidity, prompting a National Weather Service warning.

“We’re getting utilized to it. Playing successful these conditions, due to the fact that that’s been the norm during the World Cup. It’ll beryllium concern arsenic usual,” Luis Enrique said. “It’s not bully for the spectacle due to the fact that it’s hard to play successful that position. It’s the aforesaid for some teams.”

Despite the challenging circumstances, the erstwhile Barcelona brag is relishing the high-stakes encounter.

“Playing against Real Madrid volition beryllium a peculiar match, nary uncertainty astir it. At the aforesaid time, we similar playing these kinds of games due to the fact that it means you’ve done your occupation good and you’re successful a presumption to play successful a semifinal,” helium said.

The victor volition look Chelsea successful Sunday’s final, aft the Premier League broadside secured their spot with a 2-0 triumph implicit Fluminense connected Tuesday, courtesy of newcomer Joao Pedro’s brace.

Mbappe volition look disconnected against his aged PSG teammates connected Wednesday successful the FIFA Club World Cup semifinal astatine MetLife Stadium successful New Jersey [Sam Navarro/Imagn Images via Reuters]