A trophy is never nothing, even when it's the Champions Trophy, even when it's played on January 5 in Qatar, even when it's the 13th in the history of Paris. Ask Thilo Kehrer and his partners if they would not have wanted to be in the place of the Parisians at the end of the meeting. Obviously, the sporting value of this meeting was less, but if we are to believe the joy of Luis Enrique and his staff over the goal of the release of Ousmane Dembélé, the main thing was elsewhere. With this success, the capital club ideally launches a crucial month of January for the rest of their season, with their sights set on receiving Manchester City to play for survival in the Champions League on January 25.
In the mixed zone, the Parisian striker admitted that he couldn't stop thinking about it. “We all have the lead at Manchester City, but first there are matches to win”recalled the offensive centerpiece of Luis Enrique, who again preferred not to line up Gonçalo Ramos from the start. The meeting was generally pleasant, even if both teams had great goalkeepers and sometimes lacked success, like Désiré Doué's shot right on the bar from the start. Luis Enrique savored the performance of his men while recognizing the merit of the Monegasques.
“I think we saw a great match between two teams who play very good football. It's always difficult to play against Monaco, but today especially, I think we had a very good final”rejoiced the Spanish technician who thus won the fourth trophy for his Parisian freelance. He was notably able to count on a Gianluigi Donnarumma who returned after the facial injury he suffered against the same Monaco, a midfielder well in place and an Ousmane Dembélé who was still decisive, even if the goal he scored is not the most difficult score he has had to score in his career.
Well served by Fabian Ruiz, who entered the game, the French international only had to push the ball into the empty net to bring great happiness to his partners and him. “It was a match with a lot of intensity, it changed for us, we are happy. When I look up after the goal, I see Joao Neves and all the others running towards me, it’s nice”savored the hero of the evening before looking ahead to what comes next. Apart from small meetings in Ligue 1, PSG will play for its survival in the Champions League and will be scheduled for the evening of January 29 after its last meeting, against Stuttgart. This victory therefore launches these next decisive weeks very well.
A “very intense” schedule
“If you don't win this final, this trophy, you tell yourself that you're off to a bad start this January. Deadlines will arrive. This victory will give us a lot of confidence, it will push us”motivated Dembélé. For his part, the always very confident Luis Enrique recognized that the schedule that awaits them is “very intense”. Before City, the Parisians will face Saint-Etienne, before facing the amateurs of Espaly and the Racing Club de Lens.
L1 is already played, who is to blame?
Video credit: Eurosport
Then, woe to the loser between Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique during Paris-Manchester City. Sure, it's in 16 days, but 16 days is already tomorrow. With this coronation, Parisians look to the future with serenity. “Doing this little internship and this final, it unites the group”appreciated the scorer of the evening. PSG will need cohesion to get through what awaits them without any problems.
