PSG coach Luis Enrique hopeful about Mbappe staying; won't comment on Neymar

Paris SaintGermain coach Luis Enrique is still optimistic about Kylian Mbappe staying at the club despite an ongoing transfer standoff but wouldnt comment on Neymars future as the Brazil forward moves closer to a possible exit from the clubNeither Mbappe nor Neymar took part in PSGs training session on Friday The club said Neymar trained alone indoors away from his teammates because of a viral infectionMbappe has trained apart from PSGs firstteam regulars all week after making it clear he wants to play out the final season of his contract and leave as a free agent next year However PSG said it wants to sell him now if he will not extend his contractPSG begins its French league title defense at home against Lorient on SaturdayEnrique was naming his squad later for the game with PSG expected to begin its title defense without MbappeThe France forward has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid which twice failed with bids to sign him before but Enrique hopes a solution can be found againldquoThis situation has existed before a positive solution was found with the club I hope an agreement is reached which is something I would likerdquo Enrique said at a news conference through a translatorldquoBut the club is above everything the coach the playersrdquoAlso Read Unraveling mega deals and dilemmas Kylian Mbappe and the Saudi Arabia offerEnrique would not answer a followup question on Mbappes futureldquoI am not going to say anything else the first answer expressed my opinion clearlyrdquo he saidStar forward Neymar is also headed for an exit from PSGA person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday that talks are moving toward Neymar leaving the club this monthThe 31yearold Brazil international was widely reported to have told PSG this week he wants to leave He has been linked with a return to Barcelona which sold him to PSG for a worldrecord fee of 222 million euros 244 million in 2017Enrique said he has spoken with both Neymar and midfielder Marco Verratti who has been linked with a move to the lucrative Saudi Arabian leagueldquoRegarding Marco and Neymar Im used to keeping conversations private I will not talk about what I said to them and what they said to merdquo Enrique saidBut I ask you to pay attention to my actions My decisions will clearly express my viewsWith PSG having already lost Lionel Messi to Inter Miami and facing the possibility of playing without any of its three superstars ndash Messi Mbappe and Neymar from last season the club may need to recruit quicklyldquoWere open to anything that will improve the squadrdquo Enrique saidldquoWere paying attention to whats happening in every position The transfer market is difficult for everyone not just PSGrdquoPSG is close to signing France winger Ousmane Dembeacuteleacute from BarcelonaldquoHe is not a PSG player yetrdquo Enrique said smilingldquoHe is 99 percent but not 100 percentrdquoPSG has never won the Champions League despite massive investment since Qatari owners QSI took charge 12 years ago reaching the final just once in the pandemicshortened 2020 campaign PSG has been eliminated from the round of 16 for the past two seasons where an ongoing lack of teamwork and intensity at the highest level were glaringly exposedldquoWhat I want is 95 minutes 100 minutes of being competitive whether thats in the French league or the Champions Leaguerdquo Enrique saidldquoI dont want 10 minutes of folly I want an attacking game I want pressing I want to be on top of the game from the first minute to the lastrdquoThe 53yearold Enrique had been without a job since Spains elimination from the World Cup last year He pledged to keep the same attacking philosophy that made his reputation at Barca where he won the treble in 2015That superb attack featured Messi Neymar and Luis Suarez but Enrique doesnt yet know wholl be lining up for PSGWith AP inputs