It is past midnight when Kylian Mbappé appears by videoconference in front of the journalists. The striker who scored the goal that delivered Paris once morest Real (1-0). Despite the fatigue, he takes the time to respond with the same ease and maturity.
The context was necessarily special with this match once morest Real where you were eagerly awaited. Did you think regarding it before the match and what does this goal mean to you?
KYLIAN MBAPPÉ. Of course I knew that I was expected. Maybe a little more than usual. But I think I have become that kind of player that is always expected. Afterwards of course there was this particular context which weighed above my head but here I really wanted to refocus on my football, as I have done in recent weeks, because that is where I am better. And the goal ? It is important, it gives us an advantage for qualification. We go to Madrid a little more relieved but not qualified either. So that lets us calmly prepare for the return match and the upcoming deadlines.
Were you surprised by Real Madrid?
Uh… surprised no. Real Madrid is one of the best teams in the world. It’s part of the teams that know how to adapt. It’s a smart team. They thought we might be having a good day. They thought maybe it was better to play like that. Now in the second leg I’m sure they won’t play like that. It has happened to us too sometimes, I think especially once morest Manchester City or Bayern: when the opponent handles the ball well, you review your plans and you play differently. But the return match will be another context. It’s in three weeks, it will be completely different and you have to be ready.
Between now and the return match do you think you can find automatisms with Neymar and Messi knowing that Neymar has missed the last two months of competition?
We have two matches (NDLR Nantes and Saint-Étienne) to redo these automatisms. It’s true that we didn’t play a lot together but with this type of player you don’t need a lot of playing time. We saw it: Ney when he came in immediately brought a movement, a different breath. We will try to ensure that he recovers well, that he is on pace, that he is confident. Because it will help us a lot too.
Tell us regarding your goal which comes at the end of additional time and where you remain lucid despite everything…
I am always focused. This is the lot of all great attackers. And that’s the advantage of being an attacker: as long as the referee hasn’t whistled, you can settle the situation and have an opportunity to make a difference. After on goal, I have the advantage of very quickly entering the surface, which means that I am in control of my destiny, in control of my action. They are retreating, they don’t really know if they should intervene, there has already been a penalty in the match… But I knew what I wanted to do: put myself in the best conditions to shoot or to be able to overflow. So I pass between the two defenders and then I manage to slip it between Courtois’ legs.
