Thomas Tuchel is convinced Kylian Mbappe has room to improve as Paris St Germain put their 100 per cent Ligue 1 record on the line at Marseille.
France striker Mbappe has scored nine goals in six league appearances this season ahead of Sunday’s Le Classique at the Stade Velodrome.
But the 19-year-old had a rare off night on Wednesday when PSG had to rely on Angel Di Maria’s stunning stoppage-time strike to secure a 2-2 Champions League draw against Napoli.
“We are playing a lot of matches and playing is the best way for a player to keep improving and progressing,” PSG manager Tuchel said of Mbappe at his pre-match press conference.
“Kylian has already achieved so much, but he also has room for improvement.
“Great players want to play every game and need these big matches to show what they can do.
“He has already shown he can adapt and learn quickly, he has a lot of quality, but everyone can always improve.”
PSG, who came into the weekend with an eight-point lead over second-placed Lille, will equal a long-standing European record if they make it 11 wins from 11 at Marseille.
Bill Nicholson’s great Tottenham side of the early 1960s registered 11 consecutive wins at the start of the 1960/61 English season, a best in Europe’s top five leagues.
“I am very excited and can’t wait for the match,” Tuchel said.
“It’s an extraordinary match to play, in a great stadium, and we know matches between Paris and Marseille are never easy.
“Marseille’s results since the start of the season are not so important this weekend. This is the type of match when anything can happen.
“They will be playing at home and have the chance to stop our record run of wins.
“We know they will be extra motivated and that they will do everything to beat us.”
Brazil defender Thiago Silva remains out with a hamstring problem, but Di Maria and Adrien Rabiot are expected to shake off midweek knocks to start.
Marseille suffered a blow when losing 3-1 at home to Lazio in the Europa League on Thursday.
But l’OM began the weekend in fourth spot in Ligue 1 after back-to-back wins against Caen and Nice.
“What’s good is that we’re gaining in confidence,” defender Adil Rami was quoted as saying by www.ligue1.com.
“The coach (Rudi Garcia) had told us before the game that it’s never easy after an international break, especially as we were missing some players.
“We showed character and didn’t concede a goal. We’re starting to understand, OM is different.
“You have to put in a shift and fight for one another. When we don’t have that unity, you can see it immediately and we go into a crisis.
“To win, we have to suffer and that’s the most important thing.”
Top scorer Florian Thauvin is expected to be fit after missing the Nice game with a heel injury.
