Julien Laurens Hails Kylian Mbappe as PSG's Greatest Ahead of Champions League Clash

Julien Laurens, a renowned TNT Sports expert, has lavished praise on Kylian Mbappe, declaring him Paris Saint-Germain's greatest player in history as the French champions prepare to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi-final. Laurens highlighted Mbappe's reduced ego this season, likening it to a 'Last Dance' type of campaign for the 24-year-old superstar.

Mbappe's performances and the team's dynamics have been critical factors in PSG's Champions League run this season. Laurens credited manager Luis Enrique's straightforward approach as key to PSG's success, noting a shift towards a more pragmatic, less star-centric strategy for transfers under Enrique's leadership. "Mbappe is now the team's star player, with his ego being checked as he has made PSG 'his' team since Lionel Messi left," Laurens stated.

The TNT Sports expert also pointed out the missed opportunity for PSG to retain Mbappe two years ago under different management and team dynamics. Laurens believes that if the current setup had been in place earlier, it could have persuaded Mbappe to extend his stay at PSG. However, with the French striker set to join Real Madrid this summer, Laurens suggests it is now too late.

Why this matters: Mbappe's potential departure from PSG marks the end of an era for the French club, as they face the challenge of rebuilding their team around a new star player, according to Julien Laurens. The outcome of the Champions League semi-final against Borussia Dortmund could have significant implications for Mbappe's legacy at PSG and the club's future direction.

Despite the impending move, Laurens emphasized that Mbappe remains committed to leading PSG to Champions League glory before his departure. In the first leg against Dortmund, Mbappe was involved in the game, hitting the post in the second half, but PSG ultimately lost 1-0. The French champions will need to overturn the deficit in the second leg at home, where their supporters are expected to provide the energy needed to give Dortmund a Champions League advantage and advance to the final.

Key Takeaways

• Julien Laurens declares Kylian Mbappe as PSG's greatest player ever.
• Mbappe's reduced ego and Luis Enrique's pragmatic approach key to PSG's CL run.
• Mbappe set to join Real Madrid this summer, marking end of an era for PSG.
• Mbappe remains committed to leading PSG to CL glory before departure.
• PSG need to overturn 1-0 deficit against Dortmund to advance to CL final.