From the expulsion of Neymar to the disillusioned words of Thomas Tuchel via the new injury of Thiago Silva, the victory of PSG against Bordeaux did not make it possible to forget the difficult pass which the club crosses two weeks from reception from Dortmund. Four of the main figures of the team are on the front line.
Doctor Mbappé, Mister Kylian
By scoring against Bordeaux (4-3), Kylian Mbappé joined Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco) in first place in the Ligue 1 goalscorer ranking with 16 units. A goal that further consolidates him in his status as best Parisian director (25 all competitions), ahead of Icardi or Neymar (19). But who does not erase the closed face displayed for a few weeks.
Facing the Bordelais, Mbappé was pinned about the poor performance in Dortmund by part of the Auteuil turn. Outcasts, members of the Collectif ultras Paris (CUP), pointed out Mbappé, Neymar and Thiago Silva about their "fear of winning", in comparison with the "rage to win" of David Ginola, Antoine Kombouaré or Rai, Parisian stars 1990s. The former Monegasque player did not ignore this pre-match banner. On his social networks, he responded with this sentence on a black background: "Afraid of winning? ".
Without further explanation, this return highlights the disbelief of "KMB", world champion and triple French champion at 21. On the ground, Mbappé was also more than upset by Edinson Cavani. The Frenchman strongly criticized him for finishing a solo action… two minutes before the Uruguayan offered him a decisive pass. In early February, he had already displayed his frank disapproval against Thomas Tuchel, who decided to replace him against Montpellier (5-1).
Behavior deemed abnormal by some fans, when others explain it by its foolproof competitiveness. Against Bordeaux, during a meeting marked by important arbitral decisions, the attacker was rather soft with Mr. Delajod. Even being lucid to prevent Neymar from slipping after his exclusion.
The fact remains that critics are multiplying against him. On Sunday, a simple sentence ("Artist's daily", a joke in reference to a comedian sketch by Thomas Ngijol) written on his crampons served as a basis to fuel his reputation as a "big head". So many facts that parasitize the atmosphere between Mbappé and French fans.
Clueless tuchel
Thomas Tuchel appeared relatively relaxed Sunday evening after winning the Park. But when explaining the feverishness of his players, the repeated defensive difficulties of his team or his feeling on the expulsion of Neymar, the Parisian coach had trouble finding convincing words. Saturday, it was first by a very long silence that he welcomed a question about the image returned by the broadcasting of videos of the birthday party of Di Maria, Cavani and Icardi two days after the defeat in Dortmund .
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His gaze and his long sigh were however enough to understand the gap that seemed to widen between him and his group. His strong public reprobation after the organization of the 28 years of Neymar looks a posteriori to a preaching in the desert. As if his speech no longer permeated the players with whom he often disagreed. "They played with the fear of making mistakes," he said Tuesday night in Dortmund. "He said that?" Marquinhos said on Saturday. I would have to hear his statement, but from fear, I don't think. ”
Fried on the line that echoes his recent lack of tactical inspiration. The move to 3-4-3 in Dortmund was a failure and with only one change during the match, the German technician appeared to demonstrate his lack of control over the events. If he could count on Leonardo, who came Friday to express his disapproval to the players after the episode of Tuesday's party, Thomas Tuchel remains desperately alone to face the big weather that the PSG is going through.
Even when Presnel Kimpembe's brother allows himself to insult him on social networks. Not the easiest when he has to take control of a group that addresses the two most important weeks since the start of the season.
Neymar, Dortmund in dotted lines
Neymar will know Wednesday evening the extent of his suspension after his expulsion in the game stoppages of the meeting against Bordeaux. He already knows that he will miss the reception in Dijon next Saturday after the two warnings received against the Girondins. But can the Disciplinary Committee go further and impose two or more suspension games on Santos crack?
Theoretically yes, and that is the stake of the meeting which will be held Wednesday at the League (LFP). The decision of the judges of the disciplinary committee will inevitably have an impact on the preparation of the match against Dortmund of the number 10 in Paris. The latter was counting on the next three games (Dijon, Lyon and Strasbourg) to regain rhythm after his two weeks off due to a rib injury.
He has only two left, and if the commission went beyond the automatic suspension match, it would be a bad move for PSG and Neymar already appeared out of shape in the round of 16 first leg. That being said, the Brazilian is not used to Wednesday evenings from the disciplinary committee. His record is limited to an expulsion from OM in 2017-2018 and three games of suspension, last season, after an altercation with a Rennes supporter on the sidelines of the final of the Coupe de France. This should therefore work in its favor.
Contrary to popular belief, the player's disciplinary record counts less in the judges' decision than the ten game period before the expulsion. Recipient of a yellow card for contestation against Montpellier, on February 1, Neymar had not been warned during the other eight meetings. Again, this militates for a simple suspension match, despite the signs of nervousness shown by the Brazilian towards the refereeing body, during his last outings.
Thiago Silva, keystone in doubt
Facing Bordeaux, the captain left the lawn in the 17th minute, after more than two minutes on the ground to pull the leg in worrying proportions. After the match, Tuchel described an injury "not too serious but enough to get out" while saying he was "a little worried". This Monday, the Brazilian finally took exams and will be offered the round of last 16 against Dortmund on March 11.
His absence, added to those of Thomas Meunier, Marco Verratti (suspended) and that of Ander Herrera (quadriceps) promises a headache for Thomas Tuchel. And there are three meetings left so as not to continue filling an infirmary that looks like a station hall since the start of the season.
A restaurant to meet
PSG players had lunch together this Monday afternoon at the Giusé restaurant, located a stone's throw from the Champs-Elysées. The vast majority of the workforce was present even if Thiago Silva, injured Sunday in the right thigh, Kurzawa, and young people like Aouchiche or Kouassi were missing.
Some participants, like Kylian Mbappé, shared a group photo of this joint meal organized on the initiative of Marco Verratti. This lunch comes after a complicated week for the capital's club with the defeat in Dortmund (1-2) in the knockout stages of the Champions League and the controversy arising from the organization of Di Maria's birthday, Cavani and Icardi two days later.
On the snapshot of the day, the players display their unity and seem to want to demonstrate their willingness to face the challenges that await them. Mbappé notably captioned the photo: "My Team".
