A 9 was missing in the PSG plane this Tuesday evening.
And that's a shame.
Deprived of Kylian Mbappé, in delicacy with his right calf, Mauricio Pochettino did not have a plethora of choices to replace the French international.
he logically chose to bet on Mauro Icardi to occupy the forefront of the attack.
A choice that he explained to the microphone of RMC Sport, before the meeting: “Icardi is a striker with the experience of these matches.
He brings different things to our team.
"
Scorer 6 times in his last 5 outings, the former Inter captain arrived in Manchester with full confidence.
It was a good opportunity for him to shine.
And yet he went through the game without genius.
Without lightning.
Without everything in fact.
Until giving way to Moise Kean after the hour of play (62nd), without having attempted a single shot on goal.
He attended as a spectator at the end of the match (0-2).
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Icardi came out with his head down, certainly disappointed with his performance.
It must be said that his match will remain like a zero point.
Overwhelmed by events, the Argentine has never weighed on the defense of Mancun.
His lack of explosiveness weighed on his people.
Not to mention his inability to weigh in the duels against Rúben Dias and his gang.
His presence will only remind the absence of Kylian Mbappé
Of the 16 balls he touched at the Etihad, Mauro Icardi lost 5, almost a third.
Too much for a player who has not scored in the Champions League since December 11, 2019, against Galatasaray (5-0).
This Icardi is not up to these appointments.
He is certainly capable of the best, as was the case in Barcelona in the round of 16 first leg of C1 this season.
But his permanent inconstancy too often makes him go to the dark side.
This Tuesday evening, a ghostly Icardi was on the ground.
His presence will only remind us of the absence of Kylian Mbappé, who remained in the stands until the final whistle. Who knows what the scenario would have been if Bondy's child had been able to play this match? It couldn't have been worse. The former Monegasque could at least have stretched the opposing block by taking the depth, by bringing the ball over several meters using his speed. Without him, it was nothingness.
