At the Parc des Princes
"Marqui, Angel, the whole turn with you."
After having set the mood near the Parc des Princes, with a few hundred of them who welcomed the players' bus, the Parisian Ultras had this thought for Marquinhos and Angel Di Maria, after the burglaries of which they were victims Sunday, while PSG faced Nantes (defeat 1-2).
In this case, the home of the Argentine and that of the Brazilian's parents were visited.
"Fideo", which has just extended in Paris, had been released at the hour of play to join his family.
“After the game yesterday (Monday), there was concern, concern.
Today (Tuesday) is a little better than the day before, ”said Mauricio Pochettino at a press conference, assuring that the whole group had been impacted, not just the two players concerned.
"We do not know what could have happened against Nantes if these events had not taken place ... Maybe we would have won", he blurted out again, rejoicing to note "that Angel, Marqui and their families are doing well ”.
This is the main thing.
"
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It remained to be seen whether they were in condition to play, three days after these misadventures.
If they had their heads totally turned towards the game and the field.
In any case, despite a certain turnover (Mbappé, Verratti, Florenzi on the bench, Kimpembe not retained), the Parisian coach put their name on the scoresheet to face Lille, in the knockout stages of the Coupe de France.
Aligned to the right, Di Maria was associated with Mauro Icardi and Moise Kean in front, while Marquinhos held his place in central defense, with Abdou Diallo.
Decisive Di Maria, serene Marquinhos
And it didn't take long to realize that they were in full possession of their means.
Di Maria, 33, fully assumed his role of "franchise player" in the absence of Neymar (package) and therefore Mbappé, making speak his technique and his speed to make differences, on the side or in the heart of the game. And it is also on a powerful and vicious center of the former Real that Tiago Djalo and Mike Maignan tangled their brushes.
Icardi was hanging around there to take advantage of the offering (1-0, 9th).
Targeted by the defense and victim of several faults, Di Maria continued to put pressure on the ball, but also thanks to his shot from afar (21st).
Involved in recovery, like the rest of a disciplined PSG, however, he offered a golden ball to Lille with a poorly controlled tackle.
Burak Yilmaz found… the bar (30th).
Just like this meeting, with efficient Red and Blue and Mastiffs… much less.
Keylor Navas did wonders again, ahead of Yilmaz (5th) or on this penalty from Yusuf Yazici (78th), but not only.
With the exit of Icardi (injured) and the entry of Mbappé (39th), Di Maria had to share the responsibilities a little more.
Especially since Lille, with new blood (David, Ikoné, Bamba), was doing its best to come back.
In vain.
"Sergio, may your father rest in peace" and "Marqui, Angel, all the turn with you".
Messages from @Co_Ultras_Paris before this #PSGLOSC in #CoupedeFrance.
pic.twitter.com/lMsyCbApYt
- Christophe Remise (@ CRemise77) March 17, 2021
And this thanks, as we have said, to the discipline of Paris Saint-Germain.
Not brilliant but serious.
With obviously captain Marquinhos at the maneuver, authoritarian and always well placed as usual, like this big ball protection at the end of the first period (37th) in front of the titi Timothy Weah, son of George.
Enough to annihilate the whims of a Lille team which ultimately never found the fault (3-0 final score) - unlike a supersonic Mbappé on the last action of the meeting - and which therefore sees its course in the Coupe de France stop there, at the doors of the quarters.
Christophe Galtier's men nevertheless remain leaders in Ligue 1 (the ranking here), three points ahead of Paris Saint-Germain still in the race on all counts and who will travel to Lyon on Sunday (9 p.m.).
Remember that Parisians and Lille will meet on April 3, at the Parc des Princes, in L1.
Six-point match… In the meantime, Di Maria and Marquinhos are doing well.
Reassuring.
The Ultras Paris Collective did not think only of them.
“Sergio, may your father rest in peace,” Parisian fans wrote on a banner.
It's not just football in life ...
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