Mbappé: 'I'm working hard to be ready for the campaign'

Kylian, how has preseason been going here in China?
"Preseason isn't necessarily what the players enjoy the most, but I'm happy to be here because since the start of my career, I haven't had a full preseason like this, so this is new for me. I was very happy to hook up again with the squad, all smiles, because we know this period helps us later in the season. I'm working hard to be ready for the campaign."

This is your first training camp in China...
"Certain players, like me, came back from holidays after the China tour last year because of the World Cup. I didn't come to China for the Trophée des Champions. This year, it's a new opportunity to win a trophy and we are working hard to be in the best possible condition for the Saturday's match against Rennes."  

The conditions here are very different to back in Paris... 
"It's true that it's very difficult, especially with the heat. But we know it will help us when we get back to France where it won't be as hot. Training will be different and it won't be so difficult to make the same efforts. This is the hard part, but we know we have to go through this. We had a lot of injuries last season, so we need to keep working hard to stay in shape and fit in order to play a lot of matches without injury." 

How do you see Paris Saint-Germain's popularity in China?
"I'm very happy and think the whole club is happy. It is one of the aims of the China Tour 2019 and it's great to see how popluar the club is here on the other side of the planet. It means we're on the right track and it encourages to keep heading in this direction to make it better and better." 

You launched the Jordan away jersey in Shenzhen. How was that experience? 
"It was really great fun! Marco and I really enjoyed it and we discovered the new jersey which is great. I think everyone enjoyed the day and everyone was very happy." 

How have the new players been settling in?
"Living together is very important and we are teammates that will spend a long season together. One of our aims is to make sure the new players settle in well and feel at home so that they can give their best on the pitch for the team. That's the best solution for everyone. It's very important, and I think everything will be fine with the new guys, everyone likes them and that's a good starting point!"  

On Saturday, you take on Rennes in the Trophée des Champions. Is it an opportunity for revenge after the loss in the final of the Coupe de France last season?
"We will have a little feeling of revenge, I think. This is the start of a new season and that loss in the final really hurt. But above all, this is the start of a new campaign and we will give everything we have to try and win a first trophy."