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Champions League: in 2019 in Manchester, everything had worked well for PSG

2020-12-03T06:08:10.469Z


In the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League, on February 12, 2019, Paris had won 2-0 brilliantly at Old Trafford by imposing its law on the mid


Three weeks before the tragedy, the tears and the regrets of a pitiful elimination at the Parc des Princes, PSG marched on Manchester United.

Never has a French team won at Old Trafford.

Never has a European team won in this legendary stadium by two goals.

The Parisians could bulge their chests out of this meeting which remains legendary despite this return match on March 6 ...

However, the winds were contrary for the workforce of Thomas Tuchel.

Approaching a round of 16 first leg of the Champions League without Neymar or Cavani, both injured, can lead to some fears.

But from the pre-match speech, nothing shows through.

“We have an identity,” says the German technician.

[…] I want people to play with courage, that my players are ready to suffer.

"

At kick-off, Tuchel opts for an astonishing 3-4-3 (or 4-3-3 depending on the course of the match).

Dani Alves takes his place in the middle to bring his technical touch and support Marquinhos and Marco Verratti.

Neymar's replacement?

Draxler.

“I'm going to try to make a great match,” simply promises the 2014 world champion. Opposite, Manchester United went from José Mourinho to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Enough to resuscitate the Red Devils, undefeated for 12 games.

"We must stop selling fear"

But it was Paris which, from the start of the match, set foot on the ball.

Midfielder Verratti-Marquinhos, with Dani Alves on the right and Juan Bernat on the left, poses a lot of problems for Paul Pogba, totally muzzled.

In defense, Thiago Silva and Presnel Kimpembe are responsible for controlling the arrows Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford.

United's plans finally fall apart at the break with the injury outings of Lingard and Martial.

On returning from the locker room, the Parisians definitely take the advantage.

First thanks to Kimpembe, on a corner from Di Maria, for his first and only goal in a professional career (53rd).

Then thanks to Mbappé (60th), well found by Di Maria again, who takes revenge on his old club and a city he hated.

The two scorers celebrate each time in front of the visiting Kop, filled with 3000 incredibly loud supporters.

The victory of the stands was already well acquired.

“What a lesson!

", Title in its inside pages Le Parisien-Today in France, the next day.

The notebook is superb: 8 out of 10 for Kehrer, Thiago Silva, Di Maria and Mbappé, 8.5 for Kimpembe, Verratti and Marquinhos.

“Everyone was ready to help, to close the spaces, with aggression.

And also a cool, calm game with the ball.

In the middle, the players set the pace for control of the match, ”Tuchel said after the match.

A year and a half later, Verratti remembers the recipe.

“We had controlled the game. We knew when to accelerate, when to lower the pace.

This is the key.

You have to play with the ball, without fear, ”said the Italian at a press conference on Tuesday.

The fear ?

The central word of Mbappé's memorable outing in front of the microphones: “We must stop selling fear […] We are strong, we are not afraid.

A message addressed to France of football as a whole.

From which PSG would do well to draw inspiration once again this Wednesday evening.

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2020-12-03

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