Weighed down by its rout at the Magpies (1-4), Paris must pull itself together against Milan on Wednesday, otherwise it would already compromise its European future.
At the end of August, the draw already augured a complex Champions League group stage for Paris Saint-Germain. The clear defeat at Newcastle (1-4) at the beginning of October brought back doubts. Without being prohibitive, this reduces PSG’s room for maneuver before their reception of AC Milan, Wednesday October 25 at 9 p.m. If the Parisians were to stumble against the Rossoneri, they would have three points at the halfway mark and would equal their worst record in the Qatari era, tied with the 2020-2021 season.
Their two accidents did not prevent them from qualifying in first position in the group, achieving a solid result in the last three matches. Adversity – Manchester United, RB Leipzig and Istanbul Basaksehir – was not ridiculous, but still seems a step below the current menu, with Dortmund in addition to Milan and Newcastle. “This is why we talk about the group of death, the four teams can finish first”recognized coach Luis Enrique at a press conference on Tuesday.
Despite its hitch in Newcastle, Paris is second (three points) and accounting wise. With two draws in four matches played in this group F, no team escaped – none is unhooked either. But according to the established cliché, PSG have used up a cartridge at St James’ Park and would do well not to waste a second one so soon. “It’s a turning point for everyoneindicated Luis Enrique. The two games against Milan are vital, but it’s the same for them, because that will necessarily condition the last two games.”
Two weeks later, the Milanese and Parisians will meet at San Siro for the return leg. “We think first about tomorrow, we must not make the mistake of thinking about the double confrontation”, warned goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. It is indeed better, initially, to secure the blow at home, as Paris did during a rather consistent first reception against Borussia Dortmund (2-0) in mid-September. Because in the event of a misstep, the capital club will show a gloomy record despite a schedule, a priori, favorable on paper.
Paris recovered well after Newcastle
The second part of this group phase will offer him significantly less latitude, with two perilous trips to Milan and Dortmund, in particularly hostile atmospheres during the big European evenings. Paris is able to win there, but its excitement in Newcastle, in an incandescent St James’ Park after 21 years without C1, may be worrying.
“We could do much betterDonnarumma euphemized. We were very angry. […] We made mistakes, it’s important not to make them in the Champions League.” This sinking under the drizzle of the north of England, Paris conceded with a very daring tactic (four attackers for two midfielders) and little profitable, given the broth caught in the midfield. Luis Enrique, reluctant to blame his tactics for the setback, still returned to a flexible but more conventional 4-3-3 in the following matches, with three professional midfielders, for two strong victories (3- 1 in Rennes, 3-0 against Strasbourg).
But the story is known and has lasted for eleven years, this PSG cannot be judged otherwise than by European revelation. Even convincing, these recent successes were acquired against the Bretons at bay and then the Alsatians without certainty. It will be a different story against AC Milan “good at the moment” according to Enrique, despite his recent defeat against Juventus (0-1) which dropped him from first place.