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Paris Saint-Germain boss promises 'many changes' to create 'new period' at the club
even a few weeks ago, it seemed tremendously unlikely that Kylian Mbappe would remain in the French capital. Photos and films emerged of him dining in Madrid, as a flow into the real began to seem inevitable.
After a tumultuous season that saw PSG more easily win the Ligue 1 title – a trophy that beneath the mantelpiece, Mauricio Pochettino admitted was “not suited” to shaping the club's ambitions – and dramatically collapse yet another Once in the Champions League, it might have been difficult to imagine a bright future for the French side if Mbappé had left for free.
Even with Lionel Messi and Neymar in PSG's ranks, there is no doubt that Mbappé is the club's most valuable asset both on the field and economically.
There is a palpable sense of relief around the Parc des Princes that PSG have managed to convince their young celebrity to sign a new three-year contract, however Al-Khelaifi insists there is still plenty of work to be completed over the summer.
“We will announce that probably [at] the end of the week.”
These phrases will sound peculiarly sinister to Pochettino and PSG director Leonardo as hypotheses grow about the pair's future at the Paris club.
When pressed, even though there is a new coach at the helm, Al-Khelaifi responded: “We wish to create a new era at Paris Saint-Germain; a new assignment, a bright air. It is crucial that each person is inspired once again.
“The defeat in the Champions League turned into nothing easy, for which I take responsibility,” said Al-Khelaifi, referring to the quarter-final defeat to Real Madrid, regardless of PSG dominating both legs of the tie.” president and I'm in charge, but the rest can happen and anything else will happen sooner or later. I don't blame anyone else, whoever will stay or leave, I am one of the first people responsible for anything, the results.
“So now I'm not blaming anyone and here it's basically essential for me, but in the end, you understand, we have decisions to make. We have choices to make.
“We [are] going to get some of them, some of them are coming quickly and I believe that actually what we are looking to achieve basically [is] to be better than closing the season – and that is the reason why the most effective objective that I want it to be bigger than the closing season.”
Kylian Mbappé grew to reduce the likelihood of scoring for Real Madrid.
'we are probably the most massive golf outfit'
Regardless of rumors of Mbappe's departure swirling for months, Al-Khelaifi claims he always remained "really confident" that the historic 23-year-old would remain in Paris.
but this season was probably more complicated than any of the members could have imagined. When PSG announced at the end of the summer that they were signing Messi, probably their most important player of all time, as a free agent following his departure from Barcelona, few expected the team to operate because they did.
Even the bright side of the season, the team's victory in Ligue 1, turned into contempt from the fans. After PSG drew 1-1 at home to Lens to clinch their tenth French title, much of the Parc des Princes crowd booed their team at half-time before leaving the stadium with 15 minutes remaining in good form.
Angry at using the team's embarrassing capitulation against precise Madrid in the Champions League, the lovers made their emotions time-honored and the stadium emptied virtually completely within 10 minutes of the final whistle. Players even skipped the common lap of honor after winning the league.
“[In] the Champions League, I honestly think we weren’t bad, until the 65th minute of the 2nd game against the real team, controlling the entire game.
Even with Mbappé, Neymar and Messi, PSG did not win the Champions League.
“Here we must win four to zero, but it is true that we received it and we deserve to win. Congratulations to them. It's certainty. There are extra details in the Champions League, always small details and also you deserve to be lucky and also you must also trust in yourself, the avid players and the entire body of workers.
When you wear the Paris Saint-Germain shirt, you are a great player at a great club and you win here, this is the mentality we want to create.
'there is love'
much of the talk surrounding Mbappé's new deal has been about the aforementioned sums of money he has received; Al-Khelaifi says he met with Mbappe and his family at various activities during the negotiation process, but insists they spoke about “no football”.
