It is an observation made without the will to tackle for free.
Executioner of PSG during the double confrontation in the semi-final of the Champions League with three goals scored in the two meetings, the attacking midfielder of Manchester City, Riyad Mahrez, also worked in defense, with 13 balls recovered between the Park des Princes and the Etihad Stadium.
According to him, the sign of a collective investment that Parisians lacked, as he explained in an interview with L'Équipe on Thursday.
"Pep
(Editor's note: Guardiola, their trainer)
really imbued us with that aggression at the loss of the ball.
To be a very, very high level player, you have to make that kind of effort.
Me, I do not defend very well, but I do it to help my teammates, explains the Algerian international.
At a very, very high level, if you don't defend, you can penalize your team.
Afterwards, when you are (Cristiano) Ronaldo, (Lionel) Messi, Neymar or Mbappé, and you have such extraordinary qualities, you can perhaps ignore certain defensive tasks.
But on arrival, when we look at Paris, we say to ourselves that it is difficult to win the Champions League if everyone does not defend.
"
Read alsoHow Riyad Mahrez, the executioner of PSG, escaped all French clubs
One way to criticize the investment of the two Parisian stars, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, against the British?
“No, I saw Neymar defend a lot, Mbappé also in the first leg… I think we were a little better than the Parisians overall.
We did not qualify simply because two players would have defended less, ”slips the 30-year-old, from Sarcelles (Val-d'Oise).
Riyad Mahrez and his partners, who offered Manchester City the first Champions League final in their history, will face Chelsea on May 29 for the European title.
The Blues, Real Madrid scorers in the semifinals, will move to their Citizens lawn from Saturday in the Premier League.
