Luis Enrique playing a ‘ridiculous game’ with Mbappe substitutions

Michael Owen says Luis Enrique is playing a “ridiculous game” by taking off Kylian Mbappe early in games and that he should be trying to “squeeze every last drop out of him”.

In an apparent bid to prepare for life without Mbappe next season, Luis Enrique has been dropping him in and out of the team in recent weeks.

He started on the bench against Nantes and was then taken off after 65 minutes against Rennes before being subbed at half-time against Monaco with the game goalless.

“It’s a ridiculous game,” said TNT Sports expert Owen.

“Who knows who will be at the club next year, the manager might not be at the club, the players there will be a lot of changes, there always is at that club. You go from year to year and if you have one of the best players in the world in your squad you might have a tiny chance of winning this competition [the Champions League] with him, you have no chance without him.

“He is a difference maker, you have to play him every minute you can and squeeze every last drop out of him, because you might not be seeing him for much longer.

“He’s a phenomenal player who will go on to break so many records.”

After being taken off at half-time against Monaco, Mbappe watched the rest of the match with his mother in the stands rather than with his team-mates.

He was named in the starting XI for PSG’s Champions League last-16 second-leg clash with Real Sociedad on Tuesday and scored a brilliant opening goal.

TNT Sports expert Glenn Hoddle thinks it “doesn’t make sense” for Luis Enrique not to count on Mbappe while he remains at the club.

“I was shocked to see him being subbed a couple of times. In their domestic league they are 10 points clear, if there was a team breathing down their neck you would probably see him playing 90 minutes every game, but I think there’s a bit of ego going on there from the manager to the player, saying ‘well you’re leaving us’.

“But at the end of the day the manager needs to look after his own job. He might not be there next year, so play your best players.

“It doesn’t make sense because his goalscoring record is phenomenal. You don’t leave a player like this out, he’s a game changer.”

Hoddle also said Mbappe is a player that fans want to watch – like Lionel Messi.

“Football needs him, the public wants to see him wherever he plays, they want to see these types of players. There are not too many like him around.

“Young kids want to watch him, it’s what Messi had, you would tune in when Messi was playing, and this is what he has, and he still has his peak to come. Let him perform.”

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