It was his big night, an opportunity like few others to present his candidacy for the throne of world football. However, when they were most expected, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé They decided against all odds not to attend their European event. The two great stars of the Champions League disappeared in combat in their respective quarterfinal duels, an unexpected performance that has once again put in doubt a generational change which is already a reality.
It is often said that the best players appear in the most important moments. When the ball is hotter than ever, teams turn to their stars to try to move the games forward. It happened with monarchs like Leo Messi or Crisitano Ronaldo and it seemed that they would be Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé who would take over once their elite careers were over. However, the crown princes demonstrated this week that, for now, They are not prepared to assume the reign of world football.
Mbappé, a ghost in Paris
In Paris they are still wondering at this hour where he is Kylian Mbappé. The Parisian forward completed a non-existent match against Barça, an unusual performance that no one expected when his team most needed him to appear. Without Mbappé, Dembélé put the team on his back at timesalthough the Frenchman was not able to avoid the defeat of PSG in the Parque de Los Príncipes.
In which may be the the Parisian’s last game on French territory in the Champions League, Mbappé showed his most apathetic version on the pitch. Incapable of generating spaces, Koundé prevailed without mercy in a duel that seemed to have no rival. A first entry in a rivalry that will be repeated again next season with the striker dressed as a Madridista.
In Barcelona, Mbappé will have one last chance to seek European glory with his Paris Saint-Germain. The tie remains completely open despite the defeat in the first match, although it must show your best version if the Parisians intend to advance to the round. The last time he set foot on Barça territory he left the city with a hat-trick in his personal account. The sensations, however, They seem quite different from those on that occasion…
Haaland, surpassed by the Bernabéu
It is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that Haaland completely disappears from the map when Manchester City needs his presence most. The Norwegian striker was expected to take his team on his back after the absence of Kevin De Bruynealthough far from doing so it was more non-existent than ever.
He disappeared at the Bernabéu in a match where he was measured again against a player who is beginning to take the form of the Norwegian’s kryptonite: Antonio Rüdiger. The German central defender went over the striker in every way, a performance that bordered on perfection, but that does not justify the apathy of a Haaland who did not want to rebel in front of such superiority of the defender.
The absence of Kevin De Bruyne weighed on Haaland’s performance, who completed a match without being able to generate chances on their own.The nightmare of the Bernabéu has passed, now there is one second round at the Etihad with everything to be decided where everyone expects the return of his best version if Manchester City waits have opportunities to advance to the round.