Mbappe Throws Support Behind Choupo-Moting

By Joshua Walters

Kylian Mbappe has rallied support behind teammate Choupo-Moting following the Cameroonian’s unbelievable miss against Strasbourg on Sunday.

Choupo-Moting gave PSG the lead in the 13th minute before taking the headlines with an incredible howler in a strike that could have restored parity for the hosts with a touch that has come to be called the ‘best goal-line clearance ever in football.’

Christopher Nkunku chipped the ball over Matz Sels in the 27th minute and the ball looked to be heading straight into the net when Choupo-Moting stopped it in its tracks on the goal line, leading the ball to hit the upright before heading to safety.

The incident left everyone in the crowd spellbound as television footage showed the face of Kylian Mbappe, who visibly looked stunned and wondering how it happened.

PSG went on to concede a second goal and looked to be heading for a defeat when Thilo Kehrer rescued a point for the hosts in the 82th minutes.

A win for the Parisians would have secured the Ligue 1 title with eight games to spare, and the draw means Thomas Tuchel’s side has to hold on its celebrations until another fixture date, a development that has led a lot of PSG faithfuls to be cursing Choupo-Moting.

Even worse for the striker is the negative press that the incident has brought him as he is on the front page of all the major sports journals and sites for bad reasons.

But, Mbappe, who looked to have overcome his shock, has taken to his Instagram handle to encourage his playmate to let go the emotional damage the incident has brought since he is not the only player to have committed such an error.

"I missed much more than you this season. We remain united as a group and we will support you until the end," Mbappe wrote on his social handle despite saying after the game that ‘even for me it's hard to explain.’

Choupo-Moting joined PSG from English club Stoke City on a free transfer in 2018.

The Cameroonian, who made his first debut for the club in a Champions League fixture against Liverpool, has no goal in the continent’s elite club competition this season.