At the Parc des Princes,
The warning signs of the apocalypse carried a miracle. The pouring rain and Jack Grealish's goal, the Englishman's first in the Champions League since the Stone Age, were only the beginnings of a sun at its zenith, one of the most beautiful to have shone for a PSG match at the Parc des Princes in the European Cup. The presence of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi in the corridors of the mixed zone says a lot about the unique nature of this victory against Manchester City.
“We showed that we were a great team, young but with a great personality and the best coach in the world,” the Parisian president jubilantly said. I'm very proud of us because it wasn't easy given the situation in the Champions League. We have seven points, it's a decisive match, we lose 2-0 against a great, experienced team. I'm sure no one here would have said we would win, 2-0. » Not even Luis Enrique himself “I wouldn't have imagined this press conference when we were 2-0 down,” the Spaniard allowed himself after the match.
The light came from Barcola and Dembélé
Pessimism was nourished by history. PSG had never won a match after overcoming a two-goal handicap in C1. After Haaland's second infamous goal, the dementors hidden in the gray sky logically began to suck the soul of the Parc des Princes. But it was at the moment when the Parisian fervor was dying down to give way to English songs that Bradley Barcola turned on the light of an excess of which he has the secret, to leave a caviar to Ousmane Dembélé, to whom he no longer cared than to make his promise of a goal come true on Wednesday evening.
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« [A 2-0]we weren't afraid of anything at all, applauds Achraf Hakimi. When you lose 2-0 there is no need to be afraid. You have to raise your head and continue to get victory if you can. This team believed in it until the end, we scored the 2-1 very quickly and we saw that it was possible, that's why the second and third came. » “It's not the first time, it happened in Lens and Monaco,” recalls Luis Enrique. My team has a lot going for it. She has faith and she never gives up, this has been demonstrated on numerous occasions. »
-And the rage of João Neves
If the performance is collective, one young man will have embodied more than anyone the clever mix of character and talent with which PSG armed itself to reduce Manchester City to silence: João Neves. A crazy grin, veteran shoulder thrusts and big tackles serving an unwavering desire to advance by passing or driving the ball. In chaotic contexts like those of Wednesday, with spaces and rapid transitions, he is already one of the best in his position. His new nickname, “Jewel Neves”, is not usurped.
And then what can we say about his impact in the air, despite his height of 36 meters (1m74, in reality). The most attentive will have noticed that he had already attempted his appearance at the far post from a set piece in the first half. What can't this funny little guy do? Even his celebration with a goat jump to climb over the advertising panels and an angry fist in front of a melting audience is a perfect illustration of what this match will have been like for Paris Saint-Germain.
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A comeback to regain confidence
Epiphenomenon or trigger? Barely after the feat is over, the question of his legacy already arises in a season that has so far been very bland despite an undeniable domination in Ligue 1. “This match will strengthen my players,” Luis Enrique convinces himself in a speech taken up by Gigio Donnarumma in the corridors of the Park. “It’s a match that gives us a lot of confidence in our game and we’re going to continue like that. » Achraf Hakimi sees this success as a sign of a hardened PSG, ready to take on the tougher challenges that the rest of the competition could have in store. “We know that the second part of the season is difficult. We must continue with this mentality in the future. »
Replicating the same performance in Stuttgart next week to seal play-off qualification would be a good start. Conversely, an elimination – certainly improbable – would make this evening, which many classify among the great European vintages of PSG, obsolete. However, this would not be the first waste. In 2017, the sweet euphoria of a round of 16 first leg against FC Barcelona (Luis Enrique) hid a disaster within it. The signs are sometimes misleading.
