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Tuchel: Mbappe doesn’t need to take Neymar role

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Kylian Mbappe and Neymar

Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel does not want Kylian Mbappe to try to take on Neymar’s responsibilities with the Brazilian injured.

Neymar, 27, is set to be sidelined until April after suffering a foot injury last month.

In two games without their injured star, PSG crushed Rennes before losing their first Ligue 1 match of the season to Lyon on Sunday.

Tuchel said he saw no reason for Mbappe – who has scored 22 goals in 25 games this season – to change his role with Neymar sidelined.

‘I usually prefer Kylian to be the finisher – when he’s our last line of attack against the opposing defence,’ he told a news conference.

‘He’s incredibly dangerous because of his pace and his hunger to score goals.

‘I don’t want him to take on Neymar’s responsibilities of providing assists and keeping possession in the last few yards.

‘We have players that are able to do it – players who can support Kylian and Edi [Cavani] and provide them with the right pass.

‘Both strikers need to be the finishers, that’s the most important thing.’

PSG visit third-tier outfit Villefranche in the Coupe de France on Wednesday.