Mbappe's PSG career a failure without UCL triumph

Kylian Mbappe's tenure at PSG would be considered unsuccessful if he fails to secure the Champions League title.

Despite being possibly the world's best player, Kylian Mbappe has just one more chance to lead his hometown club to European success. Interestingly, despite his significant earnings, Mbappe has often felt undervalued, especially in France. However, he has consistently maintained that he doesn't hold any grudges against his compatriots for taking his exceptional performances for granted.

In an interview with France Football last July, Mbappe explained, "I don't blame them. They've seen me grow up, they see me regularly at Paris Saint-Germain matches or with the national team. And I've been scoring consistently for years. So, for people, it starts to feel normal."

He added, "But I've never complained about my performances being overlooked. I, too, used to overlook what Messi, Ronaldo, and other great players were achieving. We live in a society where it's always about 'That was good, but can you do it again?'

Mbappe acknowledges that being in close proximity to his hometown in Paris doesn't necessarily benefit him, attributing it to PSG's divisive nature as a club. Despite the gossip surrounding PSG, he remains unfazed, confident in his abilities and approach.

Ironically, Mbappe himself has become emblematic of PSG's divisiveness, a result of the entitlement culture at Parc des Princes. Many view him as a polarizing figure, someone who, while solving problems, also creates them.

As Mbappe inches closer to a rumored transfer to Real Madrid following yet another disappointing Champions League campaign, it raises the question: Did his seven years at Parc des Princes ultimately bring more trouble than success?

All-time leading goalscorer

When Mbappe transferred from Monaco to PSG for a staggering €180 million (£150m/$190m), he expressed his ambition to make history in France, particularly in Paris, his country, and his city. Without a doubt, he has achieved that goal.

Currently, PSG is on the verge of securing their fifth Ligue 1 title since Mbappe's arrival. Additionally, Mbappe is set to clinch the top spot in the scorers' chart for the sixth time in seven seasons. With an impressive tally of 251 goals in 301 games, he has become PSG's most prolific player in history. Mbappe's legacy at the club is firmly established in the record books.

Despite his significant achievements at PSG, including becoming the club's all-time leading scorer, Mbappe, much like Neymar and Messi before him, has failed to accomplish the primary objective for which he was brought to the club: securing PSG's first Champions League title.

Mbappe's mission

Mbappe once joked that if his future at a club notorious for disappointing European exits truly depended on Champions League success, he would have departed years ago. However, the reality remains that PSG invested over €400 million (£340m/$425m) to acquire both Mbappe and Neymar in the summer of 2017 with the explicit aim of clinching the Champions League title.

What started as an aspiration became an obligation, and Mbappe was equally determined as PSG's Qatari owners to achieve it. Ahead of the 2020 final against Bayern Munich, Mbappe acknowledged, "It would be a significant accomplishment to win the competition with a French side. That was my objective when I joined."
Regrettably for Mbappe, this objective remains unfulfilled, and time is ticking away.

More misery?

Mbappe's last opportunity to pursue the Champions League with PSG is facing daunting odds following their 3-2 first-leg defeat to Barcelona on home turf. While Barcelona is not invincible, they have been playing with renewed vigor since Xavi's announcement of stepping down as coach at the season's end.

For Barcelona, reaching the quarter-finals is a pleasant surprise, given their challenging start to the season. Conversely, PSG finds themselves under immense pressure heading into the second leg in Catalonia.

While PSG may have already secured another domestic title, their success this season hinges on their European performance. A quarter-final exit would be considered a failure, especially for a club that bolstered its squad significantly last summer, with many believing Mbappe played a role in approving signings such as France teammates Ousmane Dembele and Randal Kolo Muani.

Betrayed

PSG has consistently denied claims that Mbappe effectively became their unofficial sporting director when they made efforts to persuade him to remain at Parc des Princes in the summer of 2022. However, president Nasser Al-Khelaifi did publicly declare Mbappe as "the cornerstone of the club's project."

It was a logical decision, as any club would seize the chance to build a team around the world's best player. Yet, the substantial investment in Mbappe hasn't yielded the desired results.

Instead, PSG may understandably feel let down by Mbappe, who appears poised to depart on a free transfer after openly flirting with a move to Madrid for the past two years.

While Mbappe is not solely responsible for PSG's challenges, the club did make several costly errors in the transfer market before he assumed a more prominent role at Parc des Princes.
It's undeniable that Mbappe has continued to deliver goals consistently, but his tenure has been marred by ongoing drama.

He has been criticized for displaying behavior akin to a spoiled child, both on and off the field, engaging in arguments with teammates, showing frustration with some and causing controversy with his public critiques of his coach's tactics.

Mbappe has long been a central figure in PSG's brand, and his departure will undoubtedly have significant commercial ramifications. However, his presence has also evolved into a disruptive force for the club.

The situation has deteriorated to the point where Christophe Dugarry expressed his desire for Mbappe to leave, citing concerns about his regression as both a player and a person.
Dugarry remarked, "I think he's becoming more and more predictable, he lacks strength and character, he disappears from games too often. He wanted all the power, but you get the feeling he's like a little boy, you get the impression the suit's too big. I feel he's a bit lost, there's no sense of symbiosis."

Possible to win without Mbappe

PSG is solely responsible for creating the situation they find themselves in with Mbappe. Their fixation on superstars and their readiness to cater to their every demand have contributed to the development of Mbappe's persona, where he seemingly feels bigger than the club. However, this approach hasn't yielded the desired results for PSG.

Despite spending a significant amount to retain Mbappe, they now face the prospect of losing him for nothing, with no Champions League triumph to show for their efforts.
Former sporting director Leonardo highlighted last year that since 2017, five different clubs have clinched the European Cup, none of which include PSG. He emphasized that winning the competition is feasible without Mbappe, as seen by other clubs' success.

Mbappe's potential move to Madrid appears to align perfectly with his ambitions, reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo's impact. However, when evaluating his legacy at PSG, despite his remarkable individual achievements, the lack of European success remains glaring.
Mbappe arrived at PSG with a mission seven years ago, and if PSG fails to win in Barcelona, it can only be viewed as a failure.