As in Monaco, Paris inexplicably sank in the second half on Saturday, against the Girondins.
At the Parc des Princes
“I still defend my team but today I can’t.” Saturday, it is not towards journalists or “experts” that Thomas Tuchel directed his anger. But in the direction of his players. It must be said that “his” PSG did not shine against the Girondins. In summary, the Rouge et Bleu woke up after a goal against his camp by young (18) Timothée Pembélé (10th) – who was playing his first pro game – and took full control, even turning the score in the lead in the space of two minutes thanks to a penalty from Neymar (27th) and a goal signed by Moise Kean (28th). Their clumsiness – especially that of Kylian Mbappé – and the talent of Benoît Costil prevented them from adding to the bill before half-time. And after the break, a black hole. As in Monaco last week (3-2 defeat), Paris released the pressure. “Attitude, effort, discipline … We lacked everything”, plague Tuchel, who believes that this second period against Bordeaux being “even worse” than that of Louis II. Even if, this time, PSG got away with a draw (2-2), once again conceding a goal from one of its former players, Yacine Adli (60th).
The half empty glass
Among the good news of the evening, there is the good first of Pembélé (despite this CSC) and the return of Marco Verratti, holder for the first time since October 2. The game was also more consistent than against Leipzig (1-0 victory), with a more playful and technical environment. Last but not least, no more injuries to deplore. But that’s not enough to see the glass half full … Especially not before going to Old Trafford for a life-to-death match against Manchester United next Wednesday in the Champions League. “We played a shy match,” says Neymar, on Canal+. We managed to score goals, but we missed some details. We must improve that, otherwise, it will be complicated in Ligue 1 but also in the Champions League. We need to play more as a team and be better organized. Otherwise, it will be very difficult… ”
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Thomas Tuchel was running out of excuses. “I have no explanation, he breathes, in a press conference. We can’t play like in the second half. We had enough time to recover before this match, and we will also have some before Manchester. ” And to add: “I am very disappointed. I don’t want to accept our second half. It was as if we had 11 individualists … We lacked everything in the second half. You can’t play a match like that in Ligue 1. It’s not serious enough. The game requires that we give everything, the spectators, the coach too. It is deserved that we do not win and it is in fact good. I thought that was enough, once, against Monaco. I was wrong … I have the feeling that we lost this match because the second period, I can not accept it. ” Led by a good Hatem Ben Arfa, the Bordelais could very well have left the Parc des Princes with three points and put an end to a series of now eleven games without a win against PSG. They shot 18 times on goal (14 in the second half) and Sergio Rico is to be credited with three saves in this meeting.
Since Opta analyzes the competition, it is also the first time that the capital club have suffered 16 or more strikes in three consecutive matches in Paris in the league. And this because the PSG presented “11 individualists” on the meadow, dixit Tuchel, a team cut in two with the loss of the ball. This was especially true in the second half. “I ask and the love of the game asks that we give everything, insists” Herr Tuchel “. If there are circumstances that make it not possible, I will defend the team, but not today. It is our responsibility. ”
“If we play like that in Manchester, we will not succeed”
Thomas Tuchel
One thing is certain: it is hardly reassuring before Manchester. “We know the importance of this match, explains“ Ney ”. Like the previous one against Leipzig, it will be a decisive game. We didn’t play well against Leipzig, but we won. Wednesday, we will try to have our best game, to play well. ” And this will notably involve the defensive efforts of everyone, including the trio or quartet of the attack, depending on the plans of coach Tuchel. Although, given the physical state of certain elements, Neymar and Verratti in the lead, we can bet that the German technician will opt for a 4-3-3 in the north of England, the 4-4-2 being too demanding for Parisian organizations currently. Perhaps an evolving 4-3-3, with the sentinel coming down between the two central defenders on the offensive phases, as Leo Paredes did on Saturday. “If we play in Manchester as in the second half (against Bordeaux), we will not succeed”, summarized Tuchel, on Canal+.
Tuchel and the Parisians will also need to have all their executives on the bridge, including Marquinhos and Keylor Navas, spared against the Girondins, like Layvin Kurzawa. “They must play,” said the Bavarian of the first two nominated. How? ‘Or’ What ? I don’t know … But we will see with the physiotherapists, the doctors … We must absolutely have both, if possible all three. ” In any case, the Reds and Blues should not keep any under the sole: except in the event of Istanbul Basaksehir’s feat against Leipzig, a defeat at Old Trafford would be disastrous for the 8th.
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