On Wednesday, against Atlético (2-1 defeat), PSG experienced another complicated European evening at the Parc des Princes. RMC Sport reveals behind the scenes of this enormous disillusionment in the Champions League.
The European evenings follow one another and are similar for PSG. Beaten by Arsenal (2-0) then held in check by PSV Eindhoven (1-1) during the two previous days of the Champions League, the capital club experienced new disillusionment on Wednesday evening against Atlético de Madrid (1-2). Dominant but not realistic enough, Luis Enrique's men were crucified in the final seconds of added time on a counter goal from Angel Correa (90+3).
Undermined by this cruel outcome, the Parisian players suffered the blow after the end of the match. According to information from RMC Sport, the atmosphere was even electric in the locker room of the capital club.
A heavy atmosphere at the club
Nasser Al-Khelaïfi also spoke to the players this Thursday morning to re-mobilize them. The president of PSG judges that the face shown in the Champions League is not enough. The atmosphere within the club is described as heavy.
Against Atlético, PSG's lack of success was once again evident. With 69% possession, Paris hit 22 times on goal, compared to 4 attempts for Atlético de Madrid. A statistic which confirms PSG's shortcomings in this area, the capital club having gone 94 shots without scoring (excluding CSC) in the Champions League before Fabian Ruiz's goal against PSV Eindhoven on October 22.
Wednesday evening, asked about the absence of a center forward in his starting line-up, Luis Enrique kicked into touch. “Bring him to me if you have this player,” he said at a press conference. “This striker, where did I get him from? These are the stats of the Champions League and from there I am faithful to my ideas. The day I fail in football, it will be with my ideas, not those of a journalist, another coach or another person.”
Before a perilous trip to Bayern Munich on November 26 as part of the fifth day, PSG is in a delicate situation in the standings. Halfway through this league phase, Paris is 25th, knowing that you have to be in the top 8 to qualify directly for the round of 16 and between 9th and 24th place to validate your ticket to the play-offs, a sort of 16th of final.
