"We do not play for life, to death against Borussia": 9 days before the knockout stage of the Champions League in Dortmund, the sports director of Paris SG, Leonardo, sought Sunday to remove the specter of a possible new early elimination on the European scene. "" If we lose, we will try next year, "said the sports director of Paris SG at the microphone of Canal + after the 4-2 victory against Lyon at the end of the 24th day in Ligue 1, while the capital's club remains on three eliminations in the round of 16 of the most prestigious European competition.
"I'm just saying that we're starting to create negativity (around the club, note). We have to get out of this ”
Very offensive, the South American leader also wanted to protect the locker room against the climate of "negativity" that surrounds the club according to him, without however citing the media as responsible. “There is always the knockout stage of the Champions League arriving and it is always the same process. I want to understand why. The team is first with 12 points ahead and we made almost the maximum points in the Champions League. We have an incredible workforce and there is this concern about the knockout stages of the Champions League. We don't play life and death against Borussia Dortmund, we play a football match. If we win, that's good, and if we don't win, we will continue to play and grow. We are calm and we must be. I'm just saying that we're starting to create negativity (around the club, note). We have to get out of this, ”said the Brazilian leader.
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The incredible “escalation” inflicted by Barcelona in 2017 (Parisian victory 4-0 in the first leg, 6-1 defeat in the return) and the “comeback” of Manchester United in 2019 (Parisian victory 2-0 in the first leg, 3-1 defeat on the return) are in everyone's heads as the Paris trip to Dortmund approaches, a team that has strengthened this winter with the recruitment of Norwegian prodigy Erling Haaland. The Parisians, them, spare their crack Neymar, injured in the knockout stages for his first two Parisian seasons and in the stands Sunday because of a rib injury, a priori not serious. He should also be able to replay before the trip to Germany.
Leonardo also praises Neymar and defends Mbappé
"We must get out of this situation of If we lose, we are dead," added the Brazilian who took advantage of this skillful media outing to defend Kylian Mbappé after the controversy over his disagreement with Thomas Tuchel when he left the field facing Montpellier. The Brazilian considers that the three-color striker has been attacked "on a personal level". "It embarrasses me to hear that he was a spoiled child. He is an adorable person and a fantastic player, "added the former international, who also said a few words for Neymar," an extraordinary player ".
"We are a great team ..."
A final word for @leo_de_araujo (@PSG_inside) and his EXCEPTIONAL intervention in #CFC after #PSGOL on @ canalpluspic.twitter.com / O3w66nPPsT
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