He preferred to react. Fight rumors before they spread. On Tuesday evening, Presnel Kimpembe broke out of silence and posted a message on his social media to respond to “false information”, he writes, on his account. In this post, sober in form (white on black) but firm in substance, he returns to a possible downgrade of his PSG vice-captain status.
“In the last few hours I have heard and read a lot about myself. Therefore, I want to clarify the situation in order to avoid further spread of false information about me. I have not been made aware of this decision, it is a complete lie… However, I will always respect the club’s decisions.” The post has been read almost a million times since it was posted on Twitter.
The reaction – and perhaps the beginning of a new controversy at the club – followed the words of his coach. Christophe Galtier explained after winning (0:7) in the Coupe de France against the Pays de Cassel and the Mbappe Five, the evening captain, that he had decided “at the beginning of the season” that “Kylian should be the second captain. That the international defender clearly refutes.
If indeed he already wore the armband last week, during a friendly in Saudi Arabia or in November 2021 against Nantes, it was the first time the top scorer of the last World Cup wore it at the start of a match. PSG meeting. “He stayed at PSG and deserved to wear this armband when Marquinhos is gone,” Galtier insisted.
Calling Galtier’s words
The choice was logical and not contested by Kimpembe. In the absence of Marquinhos, the traditional captain, Prenel Kimpembe (injured) and Marco Verratti, the regular vice-captains, Mbappé, who has become indispensable to PSG, has the legal right to wear the armband. But the coach’s words are a challenge. Why does Galtier claim that Mbappe is the only vice-captain, while Kimpembe (Brest, Troyes) and Marco Verratti (Auxerre) were captains in the absence of Marquinhos this season? Matches played by Mbappe.
According to our information, Kimpembe (who is recovering from tendonitis in his right Achilles tendon), Verratti and Ramos will be able to wear the bandage again in the absence of Marquinhos, and the function will not be limited to Kylian alone. Galtier’s statement might have implied. For the Parisian coach, this group of five players remains the favored relay and he consults with him on various matters throughout the season.
The decision to entrust the armband to Mbappe on Monday simply confirms the growing influence in the dressing room of Kid de Bondi. And the desire to continue to put it at the heart of the Paris project.
Source: Le Parisien
I have worked in the news industry for over 10 years. I have a keen interest in sports and have written for many different publications. I am currently working as an author at 24 News Recorder. I cover mostly sports news but also write about other topics such as current affairs and politics. I have a strong interest in social media and how it can be used to engage with audiences.
