Kylian Mbappe made a significant impact upon his return to the starting lineup as Paris Saint-Germain secured a 3-1 victory over Nice in the quarter-finals of the French Cup on Wednesday. Coach Luis Enrique made six changes to the team, including recalling Mbappe, who responded by scoring the opening goal in the 14th minute. Fabian Ruiz doubled PSG's lead shortly after, but Gaetan Laborde pulled one back for Nice before halftime. Brazilian defender Lucas Beraldo sealed the win for PSG with his first goal for the club in the 60th minute.
With PSG already leading Ligue 1 by ten points and progressing to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the victory keeps alive their hopes of winning multiple titles this season. Luis Enrique expressed optimism about the team's progress, emphasizing their competitiveness as they enter the final stages of the season.
PSG, the record 14-time winners of the French Cup, will face Rennes in the semi-finals on April 3. Meanwhile, Lyon will host second-tier Valenciennes in the other semi-final a day earlier. Despite PSG's recent dominance in the competition, they failed to win the title in the last two years.
Mbappe's role in the team has been under scrutiny, with the French striker either starting on the bench or being substituted in recent Ligue 1 matches after expressing his intention to leave the club. However, he has continued to deliver strong performances, particularly in the Champions League. Luis Enrique indicated that Mbappe will continue to feature prominently in domestic cup competitions.
Regarding squad rotation and player dissatisfaction, Luis Enrique emphasized the importance of players being prepared to perform at their best and dismissed concerns about fairness. He stressed that PSG is a top-level football team and players must be ready to give their all.
PSG's victory over Nice showcased their strength and determination as they aim for success on multiple fronts this season. Despite a brief resurgence from Nice, PSG maintained control of the game and secured a convincing victory, highlighting their status as formidable contenders in French football.
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