Mbappe ‘fine’ to face Real Madrid, insists Pochettino

Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe attends a training session at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 8, 2022 on the eve of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 second league football match against Real Madrid CF. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)

Mauricio Pochettino has said Kylian Mbappe is “fine” and expects him to play against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, despite the striker’s injury scare in training.

Mbappe picked up a knock in training on Monday, prompting fears he could miss the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Madrid will have to overturn a 1-0 deficit to reach the quarter-finals.

But PSG held an open training session at the stadium on Tuesday evening and Mbappe appeared to be involved as normal.

“He’s fine,” said Pochettino in a press conference before the session. “At first he was a bit sore but a couple of hours later he could walk normally.”

Asked in a television interview whether Mbappe would play against Madrid, Pochettino said: “Yes, in theory we still have 24 hours left, but everything indicates yes.”

All eyes are on Mbappe this week, given the 23-year-old’s PSG contract expires in the summer, when he is widely expected to join Real Madrid instead of signing an extension.

“Kylian is a very mature player and the only thing he wants is to play football, to do it in the best way and to defend the colours of his shirt”, said Pochettino.

“Kylian’s performance will have nothing to do with what happens externally,” added the Argentinian.

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric admitted earlier on Tuesday he would love to play with Mbappe, whose stunning late goal gave PSG the advantage after the opening leg in Paris.

“We all want to play with great players and