Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is focused on playing according to head coach John Harbaugh despite no contract extension being agreed yet.
Jackson, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, had previously indicated that he hoped to come to an agreement on an extension with the Ravens by a Week 1 deadline.
But the Ravens' season opener is fast approaching, with Baltimore up against the New York Jets on Sunday.
Harbaugh rejected any suggestion that Jackson would hold out on a new deal and insisted he was focused on playing for the Ravens after Monday's practice.
"Lamar has said he's focused on the season, he's under contract and he's going to have the best season he can have," Harbaugh told reporters.
"He's hopeful to get a new contract and we're hopeful to get him a new contract. All the rest of it is business. There is nothing other than coming to something that is mutually agreeable.
"That's the way that all of these deals are done. So, obviously, I'm very hopeful, and I know everyone is really hopeful to get it done."
The Ravens QB, who is representing himself without an agent, is set to make just over $23million guaranteed on his fifth-year option in 2022.
"I don't have any updates," Harbaugh said.
"My interactions with Lamar have been all football. He's been focused and locked in on that, 100 per cent, from a football standpoint."
The 32nd overall pick of the 2018 draft, Jackson is coming off an injury-marred 2021 season, averaging 240.2 passing yards and 63.9 yards rushing in 12 games.
He finished with 16 passing touchdowns, a career-high 13 interceptions and an 87.0 QB rating – eighth lowest among the 30 quarterbacks with at least 350 passing attempts last season.
The Ravens lost four of the five games Jackson missed last season and finished 8-9 to miss the playoffs for the first time in his career.
Frances Tiafoe is dreaming big after upsetting Rafael Nadal in the US Open fourth round on Monday to open up the men's singles draw.
The 22nd-seeded American stunned the 22-time grand slam champion, winning 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3 in three hours and 34 minutes.
The victory meant Tiafoe reached the US Open quarter-finals for the first time, having fallen in the fourth round in the past three years. It also equaled his best-ever major return, having made the 2019 Australian Open quarters as well.
It also opens up the men's singles draw for a potential new grand slam winner, with Marin Cilic – who is due to play third seed Carlos Alcaraz on Monday evening – the last remaining major champion.
"Everyone is looking at it I'm sure," Tiafoe told reporters about the draw. "Everyone looks at it. Here we go, right? So am I. I'm just taking it day by day.
"Slams, crazy things can happen. Especially here in New York, so it's going to be a fun ride come Wednesday."
Tiafoe will take on ninth seed Andrey Rublev on Wednesday in the last eight, where he will hope to re-produce the "unbelievable" form he displayed against Nadal.
"I'm beyond happy, almost in tears, I can't believe it," Tiafoe said in his on-court interview. "I played unbelievable tennis today. I really don't know what happened."
During his press conference, he added: "It was definitely one hell of a performance… I just came out there and I just believed I could do it.
"It helps I played him a couple times. Haven't played him in some years [not since 2019]. I'm a different person now, different player."
Tiafoe had never beaten Nadal before, nor had he taken a set off the Spanish world number three. The victory was Tiafoe's third against a top-five opponent.
"For a while there, I was like, geez, you see all these young guys get Rafa, Fed [Roger Federer], Novak [Djokovic], am I ever going to be able to say I beat one of them?" he said.
"Today I was like, no, I'm going to do that. Now it's something to tell the kids, the grandkids, I beat Rafa."
Tiafoe was also blown away after four-time NBA MVP LeBron James tweeted after his win, labeling him the "young king".
"I was losing it in the locker room. I was going crazy," he said. "That's my guy, so to see him post that, I was like do I retweet it as soon as he sent it? I was like, you know what, I'm going to be cool and act like I didn't see it and then retweet it three hours later."
Rafael Nadal was frustrated by his performance when speaking with the media after his upset loss against Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round, admitting "he was better than me".
Nadal only allowed two total break point opportunities from the first three sets, but he was unable to save either, leading to Tiafoe taking the first and third frames.
The all-time leader in men's grand slams then was uncharacteristically shaky in the fourth, committing four double faults and more unforced errors (nine) than winners (seven).
While reporters questioned if it was the oppressive humidity, injuries, or even the distraction of the roof closing mid-match, Nadal made it clear his poor performance had a much simpler explanation.
"Well, the difference is easy," he said. "I played a bad match and he played a good match. At the end that's it, no?
"I was not able to hold a high level of tennis for a long time. I was not quick enough on my movements. He was able to take the ball too many times very early, so I was not able to push him back.
"Tennis is a sport of position a lot of times – if not, you need to be very, very quick and very young. I am not in that moment anymore.
"My shots need to be better. In some way my understanding of the game and the quality of my shots were not good enough. They were poor, I think I have to say today, because I was not able to create that much on him.
"Well done for him. He was better than me."
With the last grand slam of the year now in the books for Nadal, he said he will take some time away to recuperate, but was non-committal about when he may return.
"I need to go back [home], I need to fix things, life," he said. "Then I don't know when I'm going to come back.
"I'm going to try to be ready mentally. When I feel that I will be ready to compete again, I will be there."
After defeating Julie Niemeier in a less than inspiring showing, Iga Swiatek feels the race for the US Open title is wide open, and any of the women remaining in the quarter-finals can go all the way
In an uncharacteristic opening set from the world number one, Swiatek had her serve broken in the very first game, and conceded another break to drop the frame 6-2.
She fought back in the second as they traded breaks of serve, with only three successful holds from 10 games as Swiatek took it 6-4, before really finding her groove in the third to run away with a 6-0 finish.
It was her 19th 'bagel' set of the season, with only Serena Williams in 2013 (25) posting more 6-0 sets in a single year since 2000.
When asked about that record, Swiatek said she is aware of it, and that she enjoys Twitter memes referring to "Iga Swiatek's Bakery", although she did not wish to discuss any potential records.
Instead, she discussed the work she has been putting in on the hard courts, having never made the US Open quarter-final before this run.
"For sure, hard court is our goal at the beginning of the season, not the end of the season," she said. "Also we're mainly practicing on hard court pre-season.
"These are the courts that basically are going to show me where my level of tennis is.
"I played too many matches this year to get, like, huge excitement honestly. But for sure today I'm the most excited because the quarter-final is my best result right now.
"I'm just happy that I did a better job than last year and I'm going to push forward."
Swiatek was complimentary about her next opponent, Jessica Pegula, admitting "she has a game style that suits these courts", but she pointed out how many emerging players are on the tour at the moment and how it may simply come down to who can handle the big moments.
"I guess it's going to show who's going to cope with being in a new situation better," she said.
"But I think it's just exciting for all of us. It also shows that anything can happen, and anybody can win this tournament."
The Green Bay Packers have a good chance of getting a former All-Pro back on the field for their season-opening road game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Left tackle David Bakhtiari, who has been rehabilitating from a serious knee injury since the end of the 2020 season, told ESPN Monday that he is ready to start in week one.
"Yeah, I mean, I'm on the active (roster) just like anyone else," Bakhtiari said.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection began the Packers’ offseason on the physically unable to perform list but has been a full participant in recent practices, including 11-on-11 workouts.
Bakhtiari, 30, originally suffered a torn left ACL on Dec. 31, 2020, and has undergone three surgeries on the knee since.
He returned briefly to the field in Week 18 last season, playing 27 snaps in Green Bay’s regular-season finale before experiencing complications and being shut down for the postseason.
After 20 months of working to return to protecting Aaron Rodgers’ blindside, Bakhtiari believes he is ready to once again anchor the Packers’ offensive line.
"I can get through the season," Bakhtiari said. "It's going to be fine. You have to just manage while playing.
"I'm just getting back in the swing of things. So, I mean, I think there's normal rust and then new normal with three surgeries, so just kind of working that out and figuring out what my routine is."
Green Bay’s second-most decorated offensive lineman, Elgton Jenkins, remains a question mark as he is working his way back from his own ACL surgery.
Head coach Matt LaFleur was noncommittal on the possible return of Jenkins, a 2020 Pro Bowler.
"We'll have to find out on Sunday," LaFleur said.
Frances Tiafoe produced a stunning performance to knock Rafael Nadal out of the US Open and reach the quarter-finals of his home grand slam for the first time.
Tiafoe was playing in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the third successive year, but his prospects of going beyond that point appeared slim against the 22-time grand slam champion.
Nadal had won his two previous encounters with Tiafoe but found the 24-year-old up to the challenge this time around, his firepower proving too much for his illustrious opponent.
So often Nadal has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and there were moments during his epic that he seemed primed to do so again. Yet winning the second set and breaking at the start of the fourth both proved false dawns for Nadal, as Tiafoe prevailed 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3 to blow a men's draw that has already lost 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev wide open.
It became clear early on that the pace of Tiafoe's ball-striking and the variety in his game would cause Nadal problems and he got the break his play deserved when the Spaniard sent a pair of forehands long in the seventh game.
Tiafoe rarely looked daunted by the occasion and though he let a pair of set points go begging after going 40-0 up at 5-4, he snatched the third with a volley to ensure Nadal would have to mount a comeback.
A classic Nadal turnaround appeared very much on the cards when Tiafoe's composure deserted him trailing 5-4 on serve in the second, a double fault from the American allowing Nadal to level the match.
But any thought of Nadal, curiously unable to make an impression on Tiafoe's second serve, dominating from there was soon extinguished, Tiafoe breaking for a 4-3 lead in the third with a searing backhand down the line.
Tiafoe consolidated with an intelligent serve and volley play on his second serve and, after a Nadal hold, made no mistake in winning the third set on his racquet with an ace.
Controversy soon followed as Nadal broke a furious Tiafoe with a vicious forehand in a game played as the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof was closing.
Tiafoe received a code violation for "audible obscenity" after venting his frustration at that decision by the tournament officials, but he harnessed his anger in the right way. Nadal sent down a pair of double faults in an uncharacteristically sloppy service game and Tiafoe capitalised with a cross-court backhand that proved too hot for the four-time champion to handle.
A backhand error from Nadal gave Tiafoe another break for a 4-3, and he subsequently raced to the finish line, getting 40-0 on Nadal's serve and then completing the fairytale with on his second match point as Nadal sent another backhand into the net.
Data Slam: Tiafoe hands Nadal first grand slam loss of 2022
After winning both the Australian Open and the French Open, and withdrawing from Wimbledon due to injury, this is Nadal's first loss at a grand slam this year.
Tiafoe also joins James Blake and Andy Roddick as the only Americans to ever defeat Nadal at a grand slam, and it snaps Nadal's streak of 16 consecutive grand slam quarter-final appearances.
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Tiafoe – 18/4
Nadal – 9/9
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Tiafoe – 48/28
Nadal – 33/26
BREAK POINTS WON
Tiafoe – 5/8
Nadal – 2/6
The New York Jets' season kicks off in six days and coach Robert Saleh is still leaving the door open for Zach Wilson to start the opener.
"Yeah, it's possible," Saleh said on Monday.
Saleh told reporters Wilson threw some passes and tested his right knee during a workout on Monday and a decision will be made in the next few days to see if he will be healthy enough to start on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.
"We put Zach through a workout today," Saleh said. "Looked good, felt good. We're going to see how the knee responds today and tomorrow, and we'll have an answer for everyone on Wednesday."
Wilson suffered a bone bruise and torn meniscus in his knee while scrambling in the Jets' preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on August 12, and the original diagnosis was he would be sidelined for two to four weeks.
That timeline remained the same after the second-year quarterback had successful arthroscopic surgery on August 16 in Los Angeles.
"Everyone heals differently," Saleh said. "Like I said, we'll see what happens tomorrow and all that stuff.
"I almost feel like some of the guidelines that are put on, they're guidelines, but everyone responds differently."
The Jets plan to be cautious with the 23-year-old, who they selected second overall in last year's draft, as they hope he will be the franchise's long-term answer at quarterback.
If he cannot play, Joe Flacco will get the start in Week 1 against his former team.
Iga Swiatek survived a major scare as she came from a set and a break down to beat Jule Niemeier and set up a US Open quarter-final with Jessica Pegula.
The world number one looked to be in a real spot of bother against the German ranked 107 places below her, but Niemeier could not maintain her blistering start and Swiatek claimed a 2-6 6-4 6-0 victory.
Swiatek initially looked a shadow of the player who had not lost a set in the first week, with Niemeier's power and unpredictability causing the Pole no end of issues.
Niemeier was immediately a break up and had no problem consolidating before eventually getting another to lead 5-2.
So underwhelming was Swiatek that Niemeier could even afford three double-faults in the final game of the opener as the German impressively took a first-set lead.
After a bathroom break, Swiatek returned with greater purpose but was still lacking ruthlessness; she inexplicably missed a forehand on break point at 1-0 up in the second, and then she stuck a simple volley into the net a few minutes later to find herself a break down.
That was the first of seven breaks in a second set defined by poor serving, but Swiatek was just slightly better than her opponent, with successive breaks giving her the edge in a rollercoaster encounter.
From there, Niemeier barely registered as a threat due to her wastefulness, recording four double-faults and 14 unforced errors to Swiatek's zero and one respectively in the decider as the latter bageled her opponent.
Pep Guardiola appreciates having Erling Haaland's "special quality" at his disposal but is adamant Manchester City will not win the Champions League by relying solely on the Norwegian.
Haaland has enjoyed a tremendous start to life at City, scoring 10 goals in his first six Premier League games to equal the division's record for the fewest matches required to reach double-figures.
Before the season began, some suggested Haaland might require a bit of time to get up to speed, but his early form has made a mockery of his critics.
However, many feel that making a difference in the Premier League is not the reason for City signing Haaland, rather he was purchased to be decisive when the margins are much smaller – in the Champions League.
Despite massive investment ever since their 2008 takeover, the Champions League title has eluded City, who have reached the final only once.
The hope is an already exceptional City side finally have what they were missing in Haaland, but Guardiola recognises the need to not take him for granted.
"All the players, they try to make us better, otherwise it makes no sense," he told reporters ahead of Tuesday's Group G opener against Sevilla.
"That helps us to win titles? I don't know. If we rely all on Erling's shoulders, we don't win the Champions League. We try to create chances for him to score goals.
"We convinced him to come here, we felt we didn't have many strikers. He tries to be involved in the way we play. He settles well like Julian [Alvarez] and other players.
"I understand everyone talks about Erling, but I have three, four, five new players and it's important they all settle.
"We don't win just for Erling and don't lose just for Erling. He has a special quality and might be able to solve some problems, but if we don't play good, we aren't going to win games."
Few will consider City anything other than overwhelming favourites on Tuesday, however.
They face a Sevilla side who have taken just one point from their first four LaLiga games and have the worst open play expected goals against record of all teams (6.3).
The departures of Jules Kounde and Diego Carlos have proven problematic, though Guardiola still considers their European pedigree as something to behold, recognising City's history on the continent does not compare to Sevilla's six UEFA Cup/Europa League crowns.
"It's a difficult competition and we are proud to be here again," he said. "Tomorrow on the pitch, against Borussia Dortmund and Copenhagen, it depends on our performance. If we are not good, we go home and get punishments from fans and media and then after a while move forward.
"Last season we fought to be here, we know how difficult it will be. Spanish teams dominate Europe, I'd love to have a story like Sevilla has; City are far away from Sevilla in Europe.
"Tomorrow, don't miss the spectacle in this stadium. We'll just try to do a good game and try to get three points."
Paul Pogba could be set to miss the World Cup after deciding to undergo surgery on a troublesome knee injury, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed.
Pogba ended a six-year spell at Manchester United to return to Turin in July but has yet to play a competitive game during his second Bianconeri spell after injuring his meniscus.
The midfielder, who was a key part of France's 2018 World Cup-winning side, initially opted for therapy over surgery in a bid to ease his injury woes ahead of the tournament in Qatar, which begins in November.
But speaking ahead of Juventus' Champions League group-stage trip to Paris Saint-Germain, Allegri revealed the 29-year-old will now go under the knife, casting doubt over his chances of featuring in Qatar.
"I have to count on having him back in January. Whether he plays the World Cup or not isn't my problem," Allegri said on Monday.
"This morning he trained for the second time, but then stopped, and it was then decided that he will undergo surgery.
"I hope we get him back before the World Cup. But there are [less than three months] to go until it starts.
"The World Cup isn't my problem. Juventus is, which returns in January.
"Pogba had made a conservative choice, we will get him back in January. It will hardly be before November, we need to be realistic."
However, Allegri claims he is not irritated by Pogba's initial doubts over the procedure, which has essentially set the midfielder's recovery back by over a month.
"From here you look forward," he said. "The past does not change, if you make a decision it is right, then you see if it was done well or badly.
"We do not think about whether we might have done it. Now let's think about having a good game [on Tuesday]."
While Pogba will be unable to make the trip to his home country to feature at the Parc des Princes, Juventus will also be without former PSG winger Angel Di Maria as he continues to battle a calf injury.
Allegri highlighted the need to manage the Argentinian's workload, adding: "I made him play against Spezia because a shock was needed. On Sunday [against Fiorentina] he was better.
"Taking him with us to Paris and risking him for a match with many important matches between now and November… no. Otherwise he loses his physical condition, he would be of no use."
Carlo Ancelotti believes the biggest unknown surrounding Real Madrid's potential defence of the Champions League is the prospective physical condition of his players when they return from the World Cup.
Madrid begin their quest for a 15th European Cup on Tuesday when they visit Scottish champions Celtic.
The group stage is condensed this season because of the World Cup, moved from its usual Northern Hemisphere summer slot to November because of the extreme heat in Qatar.
Teams involved in the group stage will play six games in under two months, with the battle for a place in the last 16 coming to a close on November 2.
On top of domestic commitments, that makes for a crowded fixture list. Yet Ancelotti is less concerned with the effects of the schedule than he is about the potential toll on his squad of playing in a mid-season World Cup.
"Until the World Cup, I think we won't have any problems," Ancelotti said of the unusually busy fixture list.
"The players are prepared and motivated. The question is how the World Cup players will return. It cannot be known."
Madrid are not seen as favourites for the Champions League despite their remarkable run last season. Los Blancos delivered thrilling comebacks against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City before beating Liverpool 1-0 in the final.
City are the bookmakers' favourites ahead of PSG, Liverpool and Bayern Munich. Ancelotti, though, is happy his team are not in the top four in that sense.
"I'm not surprised. I see it as a good sign," he added. "I think that last year we had even less probability in the statistics. So we have improved.
"What happened last year will happen. We are going to compete until the end and hopefully we will compete in the final."
Ancelotti's team are, however, overwhelming favourites to win Group F, which also features RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk, as well as Celtic.
But Ancelotti pointed to Madrid's shock home defeat to Sheriff Tiraspol in last season's group stage when asked about their seemingly easy draw.
"It is not an easy group, because we know the teams very well," said Ancelotti. "Celtic are doing very well, we have to respect them, like Leipzig and Shakhtar.
"In the group stage, there are surprises, especially in the first half. We have a pretty vivid memory of last season with Sherriff at home. We respect the group and I think it will be an even group."
Thomas Tuchel claimed Reece James' development is "far from over" after the right-back signed a new long-term contract with Chelsea.
James has emerged as a key player in Tuchel's Chelsea side since he took over last January, driving forward from a wing-back role or filling in on the right of the German's favoured three-man backline, and has made five Premier League appearances this season.
The England international penned a new five-year contract with the Blues on Monday, which reportedly makes him the highest-paid defender in their history.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea's Champions League opener with Dinamo Zagreb, Tuchel expressed his delight at the Blues' ability to tie down one of their prized assets.
"Of course, he's a very decisive player for us and he's an academy player, and we told you many times how important he is," Tuchel said.
"I think his development is far from over, there's a lot to learn for him and there's a lot to come,
"But of course, we're happy to have a key player with us for so many years."
On the domestic front, Chelsea have claimed 10 points from their first six Premier League outings, which have contained a series of controversial decisions.
Last month, the decision to allow two contentious Tottenham goals in a fiery 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge led Tuchel to declare referee Anthony Taylor should no longer officiate Chelsea's games, comments which saw him fined by the Football Association (FA).
On Saturday, meanwhile, West Ham had a potential last-gasp equaliser against the Blues denied by a VAR review after a collision between Edouard Mendy and Jarrod Bowen, a decision David Moyes described as "scandalous" as he accused Mendy of feigning injury.
Asked to comment on the plethora of perceived mistakes made in recent weeks, Tuchel asked: "What can I say now to be clear and not pay a fine again? Where is the line?
"Maybe it's better if other people talk about it, our last three home games were like… I don't need that anymore. Red cards, VAR decisions, goals given, decisions not taken where it's obvious to take them.
"Speaking about the last game, I understand the frustration, I understand the discussions about this decision. For me, it's not a 100 per cent decision. It was against Tottenham, it was not now.
"I was happy that the referee got the chance to have a review on the pitch and then it is his decision, we will never have a game without mistakes but at least he gave everyone the feeling that he took the decision.
"I understand the frustration, now it's maybe not on me to comment on it too much but I think the quality of the mistakes, nobody is happy with that."
Pressed on Moyes' comments about Mendy, Tuchel highlighted the FA's refusal to punish the Irons boss, adding: "I did not hear the accusations and you know what happened to me when I spoke about the referee… it was pretty expensive.
"I told you after that I will not comment anymore. I can understand his frustrations, his point of view, and we'll leave it there."
Chelsea have been inconsistent throughout the season's early weeks, and Tuchel believes Tuesday's trip to Zagreb is an ideal opportunity for the Blues to kick-start their campaign.
"We are ourselves in a moment where we need to improve. We are not fully happy with the results," he said.
"We are not fully happy with our performances, so we need to take the next step and it's Champions League so it's very exciting.
"We are very aware of what the challenge is, to play the first match away in a group stage is always difficult, it can always end up in complicated situations, but I think it's very important that we accept it and play a humble match.
"We will accept the challenge and we will accept the fight, and then we can also have the belief and trust that we are able to win, but we need to perform, for sure."
Thomas Tuchel declared Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is hungry to prove a point as he weighed up whether to throw Chelsea's new striker in from the start at Dinamo Zagreb.
Aubameyang, who only left Arsenal for Barcelona in January, became one of the final major signings of a busy transfer window at Stamford Bridge, and has made the trip to Croatia for the Blues' Champions League opener.
The striker was unable to feature in a 2-1 Premier League win over West Ham on Saturday after suffering a broken jaw when his home was invaded by burglars ahead of his transfer.
But Aubameyang could be set to make his debut while donning a protective mask on Tuesday, and Tuchel believes the 33-year-old is desperate to hit the ground running.
Asked whether Aubameyang was the type of character to thrive in difficult situations, Tuchel said: "He is the sort of player. He's very ambitious, he's very focused and hungry to play for us.
"He's hungry to prove a point still, that's why he's here. That's what we felt from the first moment and he's happily invited to prove a point tomorrow."
Pressed on whether Aubameyang could start, he added: "If an issue would come up today [on Monday], we will not put him tomorrow, but there was no issue for him [on Sunday] and I hope there will not be an issue.
"Is he ready to start? Of course, I think he cannot play 90 minutes so it's on us to take a decision on how we manage the minutes, he needs minutes to get his full fitness and rhythm, it's clear.
"So it's on us to find a solution, if he comes from the bench or if he starts."
Aubameyang scored 56 goals in just 63 league games under Tuchel's management at Borussia Dortmund, averaging a goal every 94 minutes of league action under the German.
His new team-mate Mateo Kovacic, meanwhile, believes the Gabon international fills a clear void in the Blues' attack.
"I haven't seen him yet in training because he only trained yesterday with the team, so I haven't seen him yet, but he is a great player as we know, he scored goals everywhere," he said.
"We're looking forward to having him in our squad and he will be a big addition to Chelsea.
"He's a proper striker, a goalscorer, which we missed in the last years. We haven't had that goalscorer that scores 20 or 25 goals per season, which you obviously need to win the title.
"So like I said, we're looking forward to having him in our squad, and he will be a big addition, that's for sure. He's a proven goalscorer, for him it's normal to score goals and I hope he will do it here as well."
Kylian Mbappe insists his relationship with Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Neymar is one based on deep respect, even though it can be "hot and cold".
PSG are preparing to open their Champions League campaign in a marquee fixture at home to Juventus on Tuesday.
They go into the game having made an impressive start to the Ligue 1 season, collecting 16 points from six games and scoring 24 goals in the process.
Mbappe and Neymar have racked up seven goals each – only Erling Haaland (10) has a higher total in Europe's top five leagues.
But Mbappe did face criticism earlier in the season for his actions during the 5-2 win over Montpellier, which included a public argument with Neymar.
"It is our sixth year together," PSG striker Mbappe said. "Neymar and I have always had a good relationship based on respect.
"We have had moments where it has been colder or hotter – moments where we have been best friends and other times when we have spoken less – that is how our relationship is.
"There are incidents that happen, but there is a lot of respect between us. I have huge respect for him as a player and his importance in our team.
"When you have two players with strong characters, it's not a linear thing, but there is always respect and it is all in the interest of PSG."
Mbappe, who signed a lucrative new deal to stay at PSG back in May, snubbing Real Madrid's interest, had missed a penalty earlier in that Montpellier contest.
Neymar later stepped up to take PSG's second penalty of the game, but Mbappe felt he should have remained on spot-kick duties, and in his rush to raise the issue with Neymar, he even barged past Lionel Messi.
The Brazil star subsequently converted from 12 yards before helping himself to a second, and while Mbappe got on the scoresheet himself, he did not celebrate.
Mbappe also reacted furiously to Vitinha's decision to pass to Messi rather than him, throwing his arms up in disgust and seemingly refusing to continue with the attack.
PSG coach Christophe Galtier and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi have been among the key figures at the club to try to minimise the situation, with a similar tone struck by Mbappe ahead of the Juve clash.
Asked what would happen with penalties going forward, he replied: "We will see. There is always a discussion about that. We have to see how it is going during the game, we haven't decided.
"If the match shows that Neymar takes it, that’s fine. If it is me, also fine, there are no problems.
"When you play with the sorts of attackers that we have, you have to know how to share. There is no issue there."
PSG have only lost one of their past 30 home games in the Champions League group stage (W24 D5).
But glory in this competition has eluded them, with Mbappe yet to add the biggest honour in club football to his World Cup winners' medal at international level.
He added: "The reality now is that the Champions League is very difficult; the top teams have strengthened and signed world-class players.
"We are going to battle with what we have and try everything to have as good a campaign as possible.
"Of course, our ambition is always to win. I always want to win. Everyone knows my aim when I take to the pitch is to do everything to get the victory.
"I am the same as last season. I am trying to do the same job, which means performing on the pitch, being decisive and winning as many trophies as possible."
Mbappe has scored in each of his past four Champions League matches, although he has never netted in five in a row. The last player to do so for PSG was Neymar in 2017.
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