Speaking about wonderkid Kylian Mbappe, Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel has insisted he does not believe the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is a Lionel Messi-type player.
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The PSG manager recently caught up with Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand – who now works as a pundit for BT Sport among others – for an interview, during which they discussed various topics, one of them being Mbappe.
Asked how it is to manage the 20-year-old sensation, Tuchel admitted it is not always easy, and added that he feels Mbappe is best deployed up front and not in a playmaking role like Messi.
"The boy is hungry and has a great personality at 20 years old," he told Ferdinand for BT Sport.
"It's not always easy (to manage him) because the big personalities don't always choose the easy path. He challenges me as a coach and, at the same time, is an extraordinary boy.
"For me, it's necessary to have this type of personality. To challenge me, to challenge those around him, and because he has the hunger to be a truly special player in history.
"Kylian is a goalscorer, he's not a Messi. He could be the best scorer in the world and he's on the right path. I've never thought about the comparisons, but (Ronaldo Nazario) is a good example, I agree."
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Mbappe has scored 29 goals and assisted a further 14 strikes in 32 games for PSG so far this season.
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