Last night brought the latest underwhelming European exit from PSG. Despite spending more money than any other team in the competition and possessing some of the biggest names in world football, the French side were incredibly poor during their Champions League elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich.
Having lost 1-0 in Paris in the first leg, they would have hoped that Kylian Mbappe's return to full fitness might turn the tide in the return fixture (even accounting for Neymar's absence). However, they were completely outplayed in Germany and lost 2-0 on the night after a shocking performance.
To see a team with so much talent play in such a manner is difficult to comprehend. PSG have some incredible players, although when they step onto the pitch together, there seems to be a complete lack of cohesion between the different personalities on show.
It is fair to say that their sporting project over the last ten years or so had failed, even accounting for their domestic dominance. The club have been eliminated in the first knockout round of the Champions League in five of the last seven seasons.
Thierry Henry offers blunt advice to Kylian Mbappe
Their latest continental failing will inevitably lead to questions around the future of Kylian Mbappe.
While the the 24-year old was not at his best last night, he was still perhaps the only bright spot in the PSG side. How much longer that is the case remains to be seen.
Mbappe had the option to leave the club on a free transfer last summer, turning down advances from Real Madrid in order to do so. It has been said that his decision was largely financially motivated, with a rumoured signing on fee of £100million and wages in excess of £1million per week.
However, questions will now be asked if he does not look to take the next step in his career in the months ahead.
It is clear that PSG as currently constructed will not compete with the elite of European football and there has been little to suggest that they have the knowhow to build one that can. On a personal level, Mbappe has achieved everything that he can in the French league and would leave as the club's all-time top goalscorer.
It might come down to a question of money versus competitiveness.
Speaking on CBS Sports last night, Thierry Henry offered the player some blunt advice and compared it to his own decision to leave Arsenal for Barcelona.
"What's the identify, what's the philosophy, what's the project?"
Thierry Henry, @carra23 and @micahrichards talk about what's next for PSG and Kylian Mbappe. pic.twitter.com/T6EMBjRHwZ— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 8, 2023
I think it is going to be a tough one now to keep him, even if he stayed (the last time)...
I actually will tell why I left. I have said it many times and I will repeat it: I like to compete better than anything in the world. I love Arsenal, but I love to compete better.
Remember that team at Barcelona? It was Ronaldinho, Eto'o, and Messi. I had been told that I wasn't going to start. I said 'we will see', because I like to compete.
If you like to compete kid, you've got to go and compete.
He has a point.
Kylian Mbappe has found things easy in Ligue 1, racking up goals and league titles in a league which lacks quality. He should now be looking to repeat those feats in a more competitive environment.
You would hope that this would drive the decision on his future as opposed to the financial aspects of the game.
Thierry Henry received plenty of plaudits for his no-nonsense message to the forward.
That was an epic ending!
— My Greatest 11 (@MyGreatest11) March 8, 2023
Always a delight to listen Thierry Henry talk about the game
— etraud (@etraud_x) March 9, 2023
Great line from Thierry Henry at the end 👏
— EHoxha (@EHoxha5) March 9, 2023
And this is why he's the best Premier League player of all time.
Such a serial winner. @WowIsRight123— Mbappe Is Messi's DADDY (@CredibleIAM) March 9, 2023
Thierry is Him dawg🙆♂️ https://t.co/kTt08vkcS4
— $𝕂𝕐𝕎𝔸𝕃𝕂𝔼ℝ (@NB_SKYWALKER) March 9, 2023
At 24-years old, Kylian Mbappe still has plenty of time in his career to broaden his horizons and compete at the top level with other clubs.
In saying that, it is now getting to the point where it feel as though each season spent with PSG is a wasted one. In Paris, they seem more interested than building a global brand than a top class football team.
He might be better served to listen to Thierry Henry's advice.
SEE ALSO: Bayern Defeat Showed Exactly Why This PSG Team Will Never Win The Champions League
