Kylian Mbappé needs to control his temper. Perhaps Neymar can help

Kylian Mbappé scored a fine goal as PSG won 4-2 at Nîmes but his red card was another sign of his increasing petulance

By Adam White and Eric Devin for Get French Football News

“You have to a protect us,” implored an increasing irked Kylian Mbappé to the referee as he picked himself up from another forceful challenge. Newly promoted Nîmes had made a point of pressing the Ligue 1 champions aggressively in midfield and ruffling as many Parisian feathers as possible. Mbappé, however, saw their tactics differently. With less than 20 minutes on the clock, he was already booked for protesting, with Neymar having to lead the 19-year-old away from the referee for fear of further punishment. Mbappé’s ire did little more than simmer, however, and in injury time – after his thunderous finish had won the game for PSG – he reacted aggressively to a trip from Nîmes midfielder Taji Savanier and was dismissed for the first time in his Ligue 1 career.

Mbappé’s red card ended what had been a rumbustious Saturday afternoon in southern France. Amid a boisterous first half, Les Crocodiles’ support providing a fevered atmosphere, Neymar had given PSG the lead, celebrating with pretend tears in front of a sign reading “Neymar is a cry baby.” Ángel Di María’s audacious effort direct from a corner put PSG 2-0 up and seemingly beyond reach but Nîmes continued to press. Antonin Bobichon pulled one back with a curling 20-yard shot on the hour before Thiago Silva’s clumsy challenge gave Savanier a chance to equalise from the spot.

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