Former France captain Marcel Desailly has suggested that Pep Guardiola would ruin Kylian Mbappe's creativity if he joined Manchester City, citing what the Spaniard has done to Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva as examples. Does he have a point?
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In comments made this week, the ex-Les Bleus captain said he believes the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner would not suit playing in Guardiola's system at the Citizens. Desailly thinks Grealish has lost his unique spark since joining the club, for example, and that Mbappe would endure the same kind of fate. Is this true? Has Grealish become less instinctive? Would the 24-year-old be a bad fit for the treble winners? This is Soccer Laduma senior writer Kurt Buckerfield's reaction.
Desailly: "I know (Gael) Clichy said he (Mbappe) would thrive at City, but it won't be easy if he goes to City. It may seem strange, but I don't think Mbappe is cut out to play for City. There is too much discipline. In France, they say that the way City play does not leave much room for individuality."
Kurt: Firstly, let's remember that it is highly unlikely that Mbappe leaves Paris Saint-Germain for City anyway! However, I can see where Desailly is coming from with these comments, but I do think it's a tad unfair to suggest Guardiola follows a blanket approach when it comes to coaching his players. Someone such as Kevin De Bruyne seems to be allowed total creative freedom whenever he takes to the field, perhaps unlike Phil Foden, who is less experienced and doesn't have the same vision and passing ability as the Belgian. It is, therefore, understandable that some players appear to be following instructions, and playing the percentage ball, more than others which generally ensures Guardiola's team maintains possession as opposed to forcing openings, like many other clubs in the Premier League do.
Desailly: "They pass, they move. (Bernardo) Silva and (Jack) Grealish both have the ability to play No. 10, but (Pep) Guardiola's philosophy killed them."
Kurt: While I've said I don't necessarily agree with Desailly's stance, I do tend to believe that Grealish has lost some of his edge since leaving Aston Villa to join the Manchester-based giants in 2021. At the Villans, it can be argued he was among the most entertaining players in England's top division. These days, he is more structured on the ball. That'll suit Guardiola, who was delighted with Grealish's performances last season as his side claimed a treble, but it's painfully boring as an observer at times. He receives the ball, runs towards the fullback before turning and passing it back into midfield, a far cry from the midfielder who was so incredibly dangerous in transition while captaining his boyhood club.
Desailly: "He wants them to stay in their own half, win the ball, show speed, play the ball, get the ball back and do one-twos. Mbappe doesn't do that. He uses the ball to make the difference. The other players look at him in confusion because he's not supposed to do that! There will be a drop in confidence if he doesn't start well there either. He's a great player, but not a Man City player."
Kurt: Mbappe has a huge personality and will be massively important to football for the next decade, but I don't agree that he wouldn't be able to adjust to playing in a team that plays with more discipline. Why? Because Didier Deschamps' France is remarkably structured. They play with a clear identity and it has led Les Bleus to one UEFA European Championship final and two FIFA World Cup finals in 11 years. At club level, Mbappe has played in a team that has famously played without structure and discipline, which is almost always where they have fallen short in the UEFA Champions League. The Frenchman would probably be treated similarly to how De Bruyne has been at City. He would be allowed to express himself in a way that makes it fun for supporters, but efficient for Guardiola's team. Thierry Henry recently touched on this, after he joined Barcelona from Arsenal in 2007 and went from being the main man in England to just another high-profile player in Spain. He admitted that, while it was, at times, tough putting his ego aside, he was able to find value in the collective ambition, and that Guardiola totally opened his eyes to a new way of thinking about football. Mbappe might actually find it quite appealing should he decide against joining Real Madrid when the time comes.
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