Former France and Manchester United forward Louis Saha has only admiration for Kylian Mbappe, who recently became the youngest to 300 career goals, scoring them faster than both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Yet, Mbappe hasn’t really “surpassed” the iconic duo, Saha believes. “There’s no surpassing Messi and Cristiano, especially in terms of their legacies as what they have done is unbelievable for the game.
“No better ambassadors for our sport than Messi and Cristiano because those guys, after winning the Uefa Champions League, La Liga, Premier League or Ballon d’Or have just kept going. They just want to be out there and love the game like a 15-year-old kid. They have maintained that mentality and it’s unbelievable to still see that passion of Cristiano,” Saha, 45, who was in the city for the fourth edition of the “United We Play” programme, told The Telegraph on Tuesday.
“However, having Mbappe now doing the same is a blessing for everybody because we need that kind of representation which signifies work ethic, dedication and excellence. Those who are of precision and consistency mean a lot as society needs values like these. And Kylian, since he was 17-18, has been proving that it’s all about confidence, hard work and consistency,” Saha, who made 20 appearances for France and 124 for United alongside representing other Premier League clubs like Everton and Fulham, pointed out.
From the maturity perspective too, Mbappe is making steady progress, Saha emphasised. “At 24, he’s behaving as if he’s a 32-33-year-old, showing so much responsibility. In terms of maturity, this guy is a genius, way ahead of his time and generation.
“Being the captain of France at 24, having that kind of prosperity and already speaking three or four languages, this guy has unbelievable courage and self-belief. I just wish him consistency,’ Saha said.
Faith in United
United are sixth in the Premier League standings and have lost three of their four games so far in the Champions League to be the bottom-placed side of Group A. Saha though trusts manager Eric ten Hag and the players to win the remaining games and take United into the next round.
“It’s going to be difficult. At this moment, it’s about building up the confidence that’s missing clearly. Such a performance is frustrating for the fans, but I’m sure the players and the manager are looking forward to changing that.
Louis Saha in Calcutta Sayak Banerjee
“It’s not about the Champions League or the Premier League. It’s about getting the team to play well, having that excitement and looking forward to games and teams to beat.
“I’m confident because there are some big players and a manager who’s willing to work hard and do his best to not only educate the players, but also give them the responsibilities. Being the manager, you should be the first believer in players,” Saha said.
