Kylian Mbappé’s former club PSG and his current team Real Madrid are set to face off in the Club World Cup semi-final — a clash loaded with subplots.
Every big game comes with its own set of battles, both seen and unseen. But in this second semi-final, one duel stands out — Mbappé facing his old team, PSG. However, PSG coach Luis Enrique seemed unfazed by the hype surrounding the reunion. For him, Mbappé is part of the past.
The much-anticipated semi-final kicks off at 1:00 AM Bangladesh time on Wednesday night, at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
After years of speculation, Mbappé finally joined Real Madrid as a free agent last year. PSG had fought hard to keep their all-time leading scorer, but the French star was determined to make the move — no matter what.
Since then, things have remained cold between Mbappé and PSG, with legal disputes over financial matters still ongoing.
So when he lines up against his former side, there’s naturally an added layer of drama. The question that’s been raised all season resurfaced ahead of the match — is PSG now a better team without Mbappé? But Enrique wasn’t interested in revisiting the topic.
“That question is about the past. I don’t want to talk about the past. I’m only thinking about the future,” Enrique said in the pre-match press conference.
Still, the treble-winning coach couldn’t hide his excitement about facing a giant like Real Madrid.
“Playing against the most successful club in the world is always extra motivation. There’s no doubt this match is special. These are the kinds of games we love to play — it means we’ve done our job and earned our place in a semi-final.”
One concern both teams may share is the intense heat in the U.S., which has been a talking point throughout the tournament. During the first semi-final between Chelsea and Fluminense, temperatures soared past 35°C. The same conditions are expected for PSG and Real Madrid at the same venue.
Enrique, though, isn’t overly worried.
“We’re getting used to playing in these conditions. That’s just part of this World Cup. It’ll be like every other match. Of course, it’s not ideal because it’s tough to play in this heat — but it’s the same for both teams.”
