Fresh off a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City, Kylian Mbappé made an unexpected trip to Caen, the struggling Ligue 2 club where he holds a majority stake.
With the Normandy side anchored at the bottom of the table ten points adrift of safety the French captain’s visit aimed to inspire belief in an improbable survival battle.
Taking advantage of a rest day granted by Carlo Ancelotti, Mbappé arrived at the training ground in the afternoon, accompanied only by his bodyguards. He met with the squad alongside club president Ziad Hammoud, sporting director Reda Hammache, and new head coach Michel Der Zakarian, who was hosting his first press conference since taking charge.
“I believe in this, and you must believe in it too,” Mbappé urged the players, rallying them for what would be a historic escape from relegation.
Caen’s situation remains dire after a ninth consecutive league defeat to Annecy last weekend, the worst losing streak in Ligue 2 since Gazélec Ajaccio and Sochaux suffered similar runs in recent seasons.
