Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar finally struck form together on Sunday night with all three of them getting on the scoresheet for the very first time.
Mbappe was quick off the cuff to insist that this is just the beginning after the trio combined in fine form to score for the very first time for PSG. The trio are acknowledged as potentially the most dangerous strike force in the world although they have been slow off the blocks with head coach Mauricio Pochettino facing difficulty getting them to click together all this while. On paper, they are seen as in the whole of Europe.
Understandably it requires time to gel as a tight unit in attack and PSG’s early exit from the Champions League in the first knockout stage provides clear indication of that with much to learn from. The ouster from the top European competition sparked huge fury from their incensed fans, with the club’s ultras now even refusing to attend matches.
On Sunday night, despite the atmosphere being a tad surreal with the only noise reverberating around the Parc des Princes being the booing of the players from the irate fans, the Messi-Neymar-Mbappe trio were undaunted and delivered a polished performance.
They led a dominant charge to trounce Lorient 5-1 to close in on the Ligue 1 title with both Mbappe and Neymar scoring braces and Messi also also getting on the scoreboard – just his eighth of the season in all competitions. Most importantly, it marked the first time that all three superstars got on the scoresheet together.
When queried about the occasion, Mbappe said: “It won’t be the last.”
The Frenchman’s comment is hopefully a hint, or even an allusion of some sort, that he might actually stay at the Parc des Princes with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
The general understanding is that Real Madrid are still strongly linked with the 23-year-old, who could be signed on a free transfer after the Parisian giants rejected a £170million bid last summer from Los Blancos. However, the World Cup winner that many has lauded and welcomed as the best player of the new generation has insisted that no decision has been made over his future.
He said: “I haven’t made my choice on the future, everyone knows that. I’m thinking, there are new elements and a lot of parameters. If I had made my decision, I would’ve announced it.
“Is it possible to stay at PSG? Yes, of course.”