One or two little scares. As if to maintain the myth of this unstable and cursed Paris. Just to put a little fertilizer on the fears that now accompany each PSG match before a Champions League meeting. Four days before receiving Manchester City, no one can deny that the Parisians trembled, at least a few seconds, on Saturday at the Saint-Symphorien stadium in Metz on Saturday (3-1). First when they came back from the locker room when, for the 7th time in 8 games, their defense broke down and saw a hitherto harmless Metz attack weigh them down from the weight of the misstep. All turned pale, too, when Kylian Mbappé had to prematurely join the locker room (87th) by holding his right thigh after receiving a blow.
But ultimately nothing serious.
Despite a few minutes of absence, a handful of seconds of anguish, it is with all the green lights that PSG left Metz on Saturday night.
With its 23rd success (3-1) of the season in Ligue 1. In the costume of leader (provisional) of the championship that Lille had come to steal from him three weeks ago at the Parc des Princes (0-1).
And without seeing any of his soldiers, especially, join the ranks of the infirmary.
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What does it matter that Frédéric Antonetti, the Metz coach, was not seduced more than that by the Parisian training.
That he has not "seen the best PSG" in history or that he has doubts about the spirit of this team which, with 8 setbacks, "does not have the mentality" corresponding to his talent. .
Not Neymar's best game
This Sunday morning, Paris regained the position it prefers, that of the hunted, with two lengths ahead of the Losc. PSG maintains the pressure on Galtier's troops before their trip to Lyon (9 p.m.), but also on the Monegasques, four points behind before going to Angers (5:05 p.m.). The Argentine coach is especially reassured to see that his star scorer, Kylian Mbappé, author of three double in the last five games, will be able to take his place on Wednesday night. And that he could be associated with the other strong men of the device, Marco Verratti and Neymar. The Brazilian has certainly not delivered his best match in the Parisian jersey in Moselle. But Pochettino knows that he can count on him during major meetings. It is now certain that the balance with Marco Verratti is possible,as demonstrated by their (only) third association on the lawn of Metz.
"With players like Kylian, Ney or Marco, there is an obligation to find solutions, formulas," explains Pochettino. You have to find the right combinations, a good balance between the defensive and offensive phases. We haven't had a lot of time since our arrival to work on all of this and it sure takes a lot. "
Paris has hardly any more by Wednesday and the meeting against Manchester City. Three days is what Pochettino has left to hope to see Marquinhos return to form and refine his choices. "It's a shame that we can only choose eleven players to start the match," Pochettino smiles. You have to make decisions that sometimes hurt. But I'm not going to complain about having a whole group, it pulls everyone up and gives the group more competitiveness. It remains to prove it once again on Wednesday evening.