ESPN FC Pundit Drops Bold Kylian Mbappé Take After PSG Win Champions League

Originally posted on PSG Talk | Last updated Jun 1, 2025 3:48 PM ET

During a segment on ESPN FC , the panel discussed whether the capital club could pull off this Champions League triumph with Kylian Mbappé still on the team. Analyst Stewart Robson noted that he doesn’t see PSG winning the prestigious trophy because of Mbappé’s inability to commit to tracking back and helping press to retrieve the ball.

I don’t think they would have been as good with Mbappé in the side,” Robson said. “I don’t know—he’s an outstanding player. He’s done well at scoring goals this season for Madrid. But you see, their work rate hasn’t been good enough. If one player doesn’t work hard and doesn’t close things down, then other players can’t get as tight. They can’t back up that player because he’s not going to work hard enough.

“All around the pitch—the work rate, the energy, the athleticism of the PSG players—it was magnificent. They made good decisions with a young team, an experienced team. They made the right decisions: when to go and close down when to drop off when to keep the ball when to play one touch when to go back to their center-half and start again. It was the all-round performance.”

This article first appeared on PSG Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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