As the season progressed and his move to Madrid became an open secret, Mbappe's playing time in Ligue 1 began to dwindle. Luis Enrique famously stated at the time that the team needed to "learn to play without Kylian," often substituting the star or starting him on the bench in domestic fixtures while reserving him for European nights.
Mbappe admitted that this dynamic prevented him from reaching his peak under the Spaniard. "You know, we have a good relationship. After I made the decision to leave, for the last three or four months I wasn't playing anymore, he only kept me for the Champions League," he said. "My head was half here (in Paris) and half there (in Madrid), so technically I didn't benefit. I benefited as a football admirer; I enjoyed watching from the outside because I love football. You see, when you love football, you watch, no matter where you are."