Manchester City - PSG: "the Parisians lacked simplicity" laments Laurent Fournier

Mahrez's double on Tuesday night shattered PSG's dreams of the final.

Beaten 2-0 against Manchester when he had to score twice after the first leg defeat (2-1), Mauricio Pochettino's PSG suffered a new lesson from Pep Guardiola's team.

Laurent Fournier, the former player (1991-1994 and 1995-1998) then coach (2005) of the club of the capital, decrypts this semi-final return.

A lack of simplicity

Laurent Fournier is “disappointed” with the two Parisian defeats “especially after what the players showed during the first two periods of this semi-final”. But he quickly points to “the lack of simplicity and generosity in the last thirty meters” of the Parisians on Tuesday evening. "I found that the attackers made it way too complicated, especially in the areas of truth," he said. I had the impression that everyone wanted to do their own little feat to score. While in the first period, with much more lucidity and skill, Neymar could have put much cleaner balls. Icardi, if he has not touched many balls, it is because we did not give him many. In summary, he adds:"The talent is in both teams but the collective and solidarity were more on the side of Manchester".

Fernandinho's key role

A surprise holder instead of Rodri in midfield, Fernandinho, who was behind the expulsion of Di Maria, played a key role.

But Laurent Fournier regrets that the Parisians have not better exploited his area.

"I found that in the first period he went out a lot," he analyzes.

And when Di Maria and Neymar collided there were possibilities to find solutions.

There was a gap between defenders and City midfielders that they could have exploited.

It is true that in the second half he positioned himself better.

He had Di Maria kicked out, he calmed everyone down a bit and brought his experience to the table.

But Paris missed the boat in the first period.

"

Trapped in the axis

“Yes it's impressive but in general all of Guardiola's teams recover the ball in the axis by putting a lot of density.

If you attack in the middle and don't let go of the ball quickly, you get blocked.

And that's what happened on both goals.

These are two cons.

It goes quickly.

But you always attack in the axis!

So there comes a time when you have to try to change.

"

Paris did not do it and did not pass enough on the sides.

“Here again, much more simplicity in the game would have favored the Parisian opportunities, underlines Fournier.

We carried too much.

We did not try to give it quickly.

When we see City's second goal: De Bruyne hits the ball twice and he throws Foden aside.

We touched the ball ten times (before making a pass).

"

Regrets

“We say:

there is no photo

, but there was room! », Regrets Laurent Fournier. "If you put at least one shot on target already ...", he slips. Afterwards, could Pochettino have had more influence on the course of the match? “No, says Fournier. When you don't have Mbappé it's complicated. In Barcelona (1-4), without Neymar or Di Maria, the collective was at his disposal and he was able to make a difference. It's a matter of state of mind. In Barcelona and Munich, everyone had worked for everyone. The Parisians were nevertheless happy with their match after the defeat. “They have surely given everything but when you do the first half that you did at the Parc, it's a shame. There are things that are wrong. "