Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery is satisfied with Kylian Mbappe’s performances in the French capital as the teenage forward prepares for a “special” meeting with his old club Monaco on Sunday.
“It will be good for him to go back to Monaco. He is happy with the work he did with them and Monaco are happy for him for his performances and for the money they earned from his transfer,” said Emery ahead of Sunday’s top-of-the-table Ligue 1 clash.
“Sunday will be special for him, but he will be 100 percent focused on PSG.”
Mbappe, who turns 19 next month, moved to PSG on a loan deal in August that will become permanent next summer for a fee of around 180 million euros ($215 million).
He has so far scored four times in the league and has also impressed in the Champions League, finding the net in Wednesday’s 7-1 hammering of Celtic.
But he has been eclipsed by the prolific form of Edinson Cavani, who has 21 goals in all competitions, while most of the attention is inevitably on Neymar.
“This year he is coming up against lots of teams who play deeper. He has less space. He needs to learn to play in tighter spaces to create openings. But he is fine and is progressing well,” added Emery.
PSG head to the principality still unbeaten this season and with the chance to go nine points clear of reigning champions Monaco, who are second.
While PSG come into the game in great form, Monaco are on the rebound from a 4-1 loss to RB Leipzig in midweek that eliminated them from Europe.
But Emery said: “They have the same number of points as last season. We’re doing better, that’s the difference. But they are very strong at home and are capable of scoring lots of goals.
“Historically they have always been difficult opponents for PSG. It’s true that they are disappointed to have been eliminated from the Champions League after doing so well last year, but they are at the same level in the league.”
PSG will again be without midfielder Thiago Motta as he recovers from knee surgery.
