Thierry Henry has revealed he thinks Paris Saint-Germain are actually a ‘more stable’ team without star forward Kylian Mbappe in it.
Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo, the former Arsenal striker and France captain shared his opinion on how PSG has changed, since Mbappe left for Real Madrid this summer.
‘I think they are a team,’ Henry told show host, Jamie Carragher. ‘They are a bit more stable, less counters. But they still lost Mbappe.’
Henry and Carragher were reflecting on PSG’s performance against Eredivise side PSV in the Champions League on Tuesday, which ended 1-1 at the Parc des Princes.
The 47-year-old Frenchman said the result was a fair reflection of PSG’s overall capability without Mbappe.
Paris Saint-Germain have ‘lost a bit of magic’ without Kylian Mbappe, according to Henry
Henry, 47, says the French team are ‘more stable’ without Mbappe in it, however
Mbappe (centre) spent six years at PSG, making 308 appearances across all competitions
‘It’s very difficult. For example in a game like that, Kylian can turn it into a 2-1 or a winning goal towards the end, a moment of magic. He can turn it around,’ Henry said.
‘You lost a bit of magic but the team looks a bit more sound in terms of balance. But obviously the result is not good enough.’
Carragher then asked if Mbappe’s departure takes the pressure off PSG manager Luis Enrique and his players, but Henry believed it wouldn’t.
‘No, [it’s] the same,’ He told Carrager. ‘You decided to get rid of those guys. The way it was with the crowd and everything, they decided to go young and I was calling that when I was in France.
‘But when you go young, you can’t go full young too early. You need to have a couple of guys that can be around. Marquinhos stayed, [Achraf] Hakimi is passing the veteran status.
‘You need to have guys that can help those guys to be better also. It doesn’t mean that because Kylian Mbappe left it is easier, I think [Luis Enrique] has to be disappointed in that result tonight.’
Mbappe left PSG in May after spending six years at the Parisian club between 2018 and 2024. He made a total of 308 appearances across all competitions, scoring an incredible 256 goals.
In June, Real Madrid announced they had signed Mbappe on a five-year contract and would wear the No 9 shirt of former Madrid striker and compatriot, Karim Benzema. He remains embroiled in a legal dispute with PSG over unpaid wages, however.
Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti has praised Mbappe for his work rate and goal return so far this season – eight goals in 13 games – but he has drawn criticism from other corners for his lack of work off the ball.
He agreed a five-year deal with Real Madrid in June 2024, fulfilling a lifelong ambition
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Henry believes the 25 year old can do more, and says expectations on the Frenchman are already much higher than any other player in the world.
‘Is he (Mbappe) playing his best football like we saw when he was at Paris Saint-Germain?,’ Henry asked. ‘No, he still has to learn. He must play better as a centre forward.
‘I will play devil’s advocate. We always say it takes time for a player to adapt to a club. But unfortunately, when you wear this jersey, you’re not given much time.’
