Kylian Mbappe believes Real Madrid showed Paris Saint-Germain the difference between having great players and being true champions during their recent Champions League clash.
Madrid progressed to the quarter-finals with a 5-2 aggregate win over Unai Emery's side, prevailing 3-1 on home soil before finishing the job with a 2-1 victory in the French capital.
Despite heavy investment over recent years - including the world-record €222milllion capture of Neymar - PSG have failed to make a significant impact in Europe, eliminated at the last-16 stage in the past two editions after four consecutive quarter-final appearances.
Reports since the second-leg defeat have suggested Emery's days as PSG boss could be numbered, with Antonio Conte and Diego Simeone among the coaches linked with the job at the end of the season.
And Mbappe concedes defending champions Madrid were on another level to his side.
"Mentally we wanted to face the game against Madrid as best as possible," he said after Saturday's 5-0 Ligue 1 win against Metz. "No one can say that we did not try.
"But this is football and, although we have great players, Madrid showed the difference between having great players and being champions."