In the locker room, the Parisian players appeared marked Wednesday evening After the 1-0 defeat on the pitch of Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League. Despite the frustration and irritation, all eyes quickly turned to the return match, in five days at the Parc des Princes.
In the locker room, after the defeat on the pitch of Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League (1-0), Wednesday evening, Parisian faces were marked. But very quickly, the staff made the switch to the return match with the watchwords: calm and serenity. And above all, preparing for a great atmosphere at the Parc des Princes to give ourselves every chance.
>> All the information and reactions after Dortmund-PSG (1-0)
After the match, in the corridors of the stadium, the Parisian bus awaits the players for an express return to the airport. Donnarumma and Marquinhos respond to media obligations, before joining the rest of the group. But only one player is missing: Kylian Mbappé. He had to pass a doping test. He ended up joining his teammates directly at Dortmund airport, at the last minute in a black van. When leaving the stadium, he still took the time to take a few selfies with fans.
Donnarumma: “We’re only at half-time”
Luis Campos was one of the first to board the team bus after the game, sipping a soda. He chats and seems to be remaking the match inside. The players appear in front of the journalists always with closed faces, like Gonçalo Ramos, who joins the Parisian vehicle alone. There is frustration, annoyance (dixit Donnarumma) but no panic. Marquinhos regrets the missed opportunities but remains positive about PSG’s chances on the return leg. Gigio Donnarumma even gives a slight smile to the journalists to show that there is no panic. “We’re only at half-time,” said the Italian. The message seems to have passed to his teammates, including Kylian Mbappé, who hammered it home in an Instagram publication.
In the mixed zone, Ousmane Dembélé takes the time to chat with Sébastien Haller. The two men are still as close as ever. Next to them, Carlos Soler enjoys a brief moment with his family. Before getting on the bus and parting ways, Dembélé slips to Haller: “Prepare yourself well for the return match!”
Nasser Al-Khelaïfi decides not to give a speech in the locker room after the match. He knows that his men are convinced that they can turn the tide in the second leg. The Parisian president planned to speak precisely before the second act. Privately, the Qatari leader explains that Paris lost against Barcelona (at home) who were a much better team. He knew this first leg at Signal Iduna Park was going to be difficult.
