Wilfrid Mbappé, Kylian Mbappé’s father, was invited by L’Equipe to discuss his son’s playing style, as Kylian is currently in the spotlight after reaching second place on the list of all-time top scorers for the French national team. This provided an opportunity to emphasize that the criticism regarding his lack of defensive effort is, in his opinion, irrelevant. He used the example of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s (the 24-year-old PSG winger) run against Denzel Dumfries in the Champions League final against Inter Milan.
“I don’t care about the run that PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made.”
“Is a fullback an attacker or a defender? What do we expect from them? I’m not saying Kylian shouldn’t defend, but what criteria do we use to judge a player? I don’t care if a fullback can cross the ball well. Every position has its own specific role. We criticize a guy who scores 60 goals a season. What I do criticize him for, however, is that if there’s a battle happening nearby, he should come and help.”
I might sound controversial saying this, but I don’t care about the run that PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made in the 80th minute of the Champions League final. That’s not Kylian’s style of play.
“If he’s only supposed to do defensive work, then we’re not on the same page.”
He does things that others can’t do. That doesn’t mean we’re going to say, “Kvara doesn’t score 60 goals a season.” So, everyone can have their own opinion, but I’m one of those who will never say that to attackers. And not just because he’s my son. I’m not saying we shouldn’t defend, but if all he’s supposed to do is track back defensively, then we’re not on the same page.”
One might have wondered if PSG winning the Champions League could lead Mbappé to reconsider his approach, perhaps with more emphasis on team effort. But he instead emphasized that he was close to winning with Paris and didn’t understand why they hadn’t managed it. Here, his father is clearly defending his son’s lack of defensive contributions. So the answer is clear.
Part of it is incomprehensible: a striker’s specialty is being decisive. And significant defensive efforts can diminish offensive creativity. Therefore, finding the right balance is essential. It seems quite possible for Mbappé to contribute more defensively while still being a regular goalscorer.
This would be beneficial for the team, a crucial aspect of football. Few players score as many goals per season as Mbappé (even if it’s not 60, by the way). But many others have won the Champions League. Some reflection might be in order; a change could be helpful.
Fortunately, this issue doesn’t concern PSG. They are European champions, with forwards who didn’t score 50 goals. But they were all decisive and contributed to the team’s overall effort. The team was stronger as a result, and the reward was well-deserved. Mbappé certainly has the right to focus on scoring goals; it’s a matter of priorities.
