At the Parc des Princes,
Is that a good situation, hand and wrist doctor? In Île-de-France, not bad in recent months. Again on Wednesday evening, several practitioners had to receive a few emergency calls from PSG supporters, after hands hit the neighbor's seats at the Parc des Princes, and punches fell violently on the living room table. Frustration, nothing but frustration after yet another match where Paris chained opportunities before being beaten at the last minute by Atlético de Madrid (1-2).
The Colchoneros carried out the perfect hold-up: four shots, two goals. And if Nahuel Molina, the first scorer, in the mixed zone, found it surprising that we dared to speak of a “miracle”, while glaring at us, we must admit that the Spanish victory was less predictable than seeing Kamala Harris made to shrivel by Donald Trump. Because faced with the poverty of the game deployed by Atlético, PSG, for its part, was very enterprising: 22 shots, including 9 on target. And we still wonder how victory could have escaped the Parisians.
The answer is simple: clumsiness, lack of realism, ineffectiveness, even nullity, call it what you want in the face of opposing goals, in the face of one of the worst central defenses in the world with the carts of Lenglet and Witsel . And it's starting to get old. Already last year, notably during the Champions League semi-final against Borussia Dortmund, Paris had displayed this defect. He only developed it in 4K for this new season. If, in Ligue 1, it often ends up happening, in the Champions League, it breaks.
“It’s really inexplicable…”
And, after Girona and PSV Eindhoven, Paris was once again completely wrong (or almost) against the Matelassiers. A host of missed opportunities, “roooooohs” coming down from the stands and the frustration of those involved. “It’s often the same thing,” lamented, sheepishly, Warren Zaire-Emery, sent to the front in the mixed zone. In each match, we manage to create a lot of chances and the only thing we are missing is being able to score them, to make them happen. We have our game plan, we manage to create chances, we can look at the data, if we scored them, we would not lose the matches. » Thank you Captain Obvious.
Even Luis Enrique, although often extremely optimistic, seemed fatalistic after this new performance which made goalkeeper and ball boy shine. “It’s really inexplicable what happened to us during these three Champions League matches at home,” confided the Spanish coach. It's almost funny to see how we concede certain goals. We create 20 clear chances to score, and the opponent sneezes and scores. »
Correa's winning goal was greeted with nervous laughter in the press box, everyone being pretty sure that such an outcome was going to happen after so many failures. Hakimi who crosses his shot too much (1st) and a too lively recovery from Dembélé (4th) set the tone. Before Zaire-Emery's delicate and calm goal defeated the Indian sign (14th) with a superb flick. This lack of realism could have taken a back seat, but the equalizer in the wake of Atleti only accentuated the Parisian left-handedness. Look more in the last quarter of an hour of play.
It's failed
It wasn't the easiest to put on, but Marquinhos has already saved the homeland so much that we could still imagine the Brazilian, who was celebrating his 200th captaincy, coming to the rescue of his attackers. But his overly centered header was easily blocked by Jan Oblak, already a saver on a curling shot from Barcola a few minutes before. “My job is to make saves,” the Slovenian soberly commented in the mixed zone. I try to do as much as possible. I'm not alone. I have ten players in front of me who help me as much as possible. I think we played a pretty good game defensively. »
Yes, finally, “the fairly good match in defense” was favored by the clumsiness of the Parisians, like this huge opportunity for the Parisians in the 77th minute of play. Found in depth, Achraf Hakimi has the possibility of crossing for Kolo Muani , Ruiz or Barcola, but the former Real player plays it personal and shoots… Pushed back by the Slovenian goalkeeper. “There was Oblak, we resisted as much as we could, and they also missed opportunities,” admitted Nahuel Molina. And we, the ones we had, we put them on. »
The winning goal comes just after this huge opportunity for PSG. Hakimi again at work, but this time, instead of shooting, with the previous action undoubtedly still in mind, the Moroccan decides to cross for Nuno Mendes. But the pass is poorly assured. Behind, Oblak raises with his hand, Griezmann makes a magnificent cross and Correa concludes. White cabbage. So, obviously, seeing Hakimi, full-back, being the most dangerous man raises questions.
“This attacker, where did I get him from? »
So much so that the absence of a real No. 9 (we must stop with Asensio or Kang-in Lee as a false 9, Luis, por favor) was repeated in the ears of the PSG coach, he who is deprived of Gonçalo Ramos, injured. “Bring it to me if you have it.” This attacker, where did I get him from? It's the Champions League. I have no doubt that we are on the right path, despite this incredible and unprecedented series. Football does not reward chances, but goals. We are aware of this and must do better, me first and foremost. »
If Marquinhos explained on Canal+ that Paris was not progressing in this area of finishing, Warren Zaire-Emery indicated that it was worked well in training. The opposite would still have been surprising. So, what is missing in front of the goal. Talent, composure, experience…? “I don’t know what to tell you,” WZE said in disappointment. “I have full confidence in my partners, each of our 9, the offensive players are very good, like everyone else,” summarized Pacho. Sometimes the ball doesn't go in, but we have to keep working, continue as a team, and support each other. » And score, too. A little.
