Barcelona coach Koeman insists no special plan for PSG star Mbappe

Football
16 Feb 2021 • 12:00 PM MYT
Tribal Football
Tribal Football

Tribal Football covers news from the Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A

Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has ruled out man-marking PSG star Kylian Mbappe tonight.

But Koeman doesn't see it as a game between Mbappe and Lionel Messi.

"I'm not in favour of man-marking a player," he said when asked about Mbappe.

"You have to know how to play and have to be well-organised when you lose the ball.

"It's not a Messi vs Mbappe game. It's a game that has the best player in the world and Mbappe is very good for PSG too.

"It will be a great game, it's one to be enjoyed.

"PSG are candidates to win the Champions League. They'll try to score away from home, they'll want to dominate and we also like to have the ball.

"It's important for us to keep a clean sheet. We have to manage the speed of Mbappe."

Ousmane Dembele has enjoyed his best form as a Barcelona player under the Dutchman, but Koeman has credited the Frenchman with his own improvement.

"A big part of the evolution is to the credit of the player," Koeman said.

"He's the one who does the work.

"We've helped him, but he has made changes. He's not the only one to have improved, but it was a physical and mental change."