Paris Saint-Germain prodigy Kylian Mbappé came in clutch once again on Tuesday night, his last-gasp strike through the legs of Thibaut Courtois sealing a dramatic UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg 1-0 in injury time!
After delivering his side in injury time in Friday's 1-0 win over Rennes in Ligue 1 Uber Eats Round 24, Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappé was at it again on Tuesday - but this time against the mighty Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League last 16.
'You dream of this kind of game'
With speculation of his making a summer move to the Spanish capital continually in the headlines, Mbappé - whose PSG contract comes to term this June - made it clear that he is 100% focused on the task at hand as Mauricio Pochettino's superstars look to clinch continental glory.
"You want to be ready for these big nights, because you dream of this kind of game," he told Canal+ after bagging his fifth - and doubtless most important so far - goal of the Champions League campaign. "It started with a false rhythm, but we wanted to win and we were spurred on by our supporters. We are very happy with this narrow advantage, but there is a return match to think of, and of course league matches between now and then."
Although PSG generally dominated play against their Iberian rivals, a stellar performance from Madrid 'keeper Thibaut Courtois - who denied Lionel Messi form the penalty spot after a foul on Mbappé (62') - kept the Parisians at bay until the dying seconds.
'High on confidence'
Enter Kylian Mbappé! Just as it seemed that Real had weathered the storm and clinched a result, the boy from Bondy came in clutch once again, linking up with substitute Neymar and beating Courtois with a brilliant nutmeg just seconds before the final whistle.
"I'm high on confidence," beamed the 23-year-old. "Ney had the ball, I lost my marker and it was one on two. The striker is always in control in the box when the defenders back off. I decided where I wanted to shoot and I put it between Courtois' legs."
'I am a PSG player'
When asked how he dealt with the pressures attached to his club future and the desire to lift Europe's top footballing trophy, the prodigy explained that it's all about keeping it simple.
"It's easy. You just have to play. We ask ourselves too many questions, we say too many things. I am a PSG player, I am still very happy. I give my all and I have shown that through my actions," he said before considering the return leg, to be played at the Bernabeu on Thursday 10 March. "We'll have to do it again in the return leg. We'll go there to win. Going there just to hold onto a result would not be worthy of PSG. They will play differently. But we must already start preparing for the trip to Nantes and, by following up with a win in the league, we will be ready for the return leg."
