As a clear replacement for right-back Achraf Hakimi, Mukiele was brought in from RB Leipzig for a cheap twelve million euros. At the beginning of the season, the minutes only went to the right-footed player’s account. However, his flexibility paved the way for him to start.
When Paris St. Germain ran out of central defenders in October, Mukiele was summarily called up as a right-hand man in the back three and has since played regularly from the start, especially in the league.
Thanks to Morocco
The fact that Mukiele is now often on the pitch as a right defender or right winger is mainly due to the absence of top dog Hakimi. With Morocco he reached the semi-finals at the World Cup in Qatar and is now allowed to recover a little. Much to the delight of the former Leipziger, who has brilliantly represented Hakimi ever since.
Like yesterday, when Mukiele set up both goals in the 2-0 win against SCO Angers. He first served youngster Hugo Ekitike (5th) with a low cross, before he put the number two goal on the newly crowned world champion Lionel Messi (72nd).
Different type of player
At 84 kilograms, Mukiele weighs eleven more than his Moroccan competitor. So it is much more robust and physical, but it loses speed.
“Mukiele is very variable. He can defend better than Hakimi and is slowly starting to get more involved offensively.”Matthieu Margueritte knows from our French partner site Foot Mercato.
A development that has not gone unnoticed by head coach Christophe Galtier either: “Will he remain a replacement for Hakimi? He’s more than a substitute. He has this ability to be very versatile, to be able to play in central defense or in a back three or four on the right.”, said the PSG coach after yesterday’s game. When the lightning-fast Hakimi returns from his little break, the trainer is spoiled for choice.
On the way to the national team?
In the French national team, Benjamin Pavard is a similar type of player who is in a slump. A dispute with Bleus coach Didier Deschamps recently catapulted the Bayern star out. So does Mukiele have a chance of being nominated for the Équipe Tricolore in the near future?
“He definitely has his tickets in the raffle. But Deschamps rarely changes his people. So Mukiele has to be really good, especially in the big games, and play very regularly to get a chance.”, Margueritte assesses the situation. One international match is already on Mukiele’s record, in September 2021 he came on as a substitute in the World Cup qualifier against Finland (2-0).
