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Champions Trophy: Lille-PSG, a shock that comes too soon

2021-08-01T00:10:45.341Z


A little more than two months after the end of last season, Lille and Parisians meet in Tel Aviv, this Sunday (8 p.m.), for the Champions Trophy.


It's already time for back to school for Lille and PSG.

A somewhat exotic return to school, the Champions Trophy between the two teams being relocated to Tel Aviv.

Above all, it arrives a little early for the two clubs, respectively champion of France and winner of the Coupe de France last season.

Much too early.

And this for very different reasons.

To discover

  • Ligue 1 fixtures and results

Two months after obtaining their title of champion of France, the fourth in the history of the club, with a small point ahead of… PSG, the Mastiffs appear with a little changed and almost complete squad.

A priori, only Renato Sanches could be missing.

Burak Yilmaz, Benjamin André, captain José Fonte - free at the end of last season but extended - or Jonathan David still there.

Not Mike Maignan, transferred to Milan and whose succession gives Olivier Létang white hair.

Boubakary Soumaré (Leicester) also left and only one week before the resumption of Ligue 1, no arrival to report in the North.

Worrisome?

Gourvennec, smooth transition

Party in Nice, Christophe Galtier, he has been replaced. By Jocelyn Gourvennec. A choice which did not make that happy among the Lille supporters ... "

It's a work of continuity with a workforce that has changed very little

", he analyzes. And to continue: “

It is the difficulty of the task since I arrived: to be precise in what I ask, while not jostling the players in their routine, their habits.

"Little change in number, of course, but arrivals in dispersed order nonetheless. Suddenly, “

the objective is to re-synchronize everyone athletically.

" in Lille.

And maybe also in the heads, if we remember the surreal clash between Lille Tiago Djalo and Xeka against Kortrijk (1-1).

The two players, suspended for the start of L1, are also available this Sunday.

“We have to write our story this season.

"

José Fonte, Lille captain

All with the idea of ​​"

starting (the) season well

" after an interesting preparation in the content, not in the results: four defeats, one draw.

We did some very good things in preparation but we lacked accuracy and energy in the finish, it did not go far very often.

We must add the little extra thing to get something,

"said Gourvennec, noting that it is necessary" to

turn the page of preparation to open that of competition.

"And if possible" to

continue to win

"after the splendor of last season, dixit Fonte.

We have to write our story this season,

” he adds.

To read also: PSG: Hakimi, already at home

And on the side of Paris Saint-Germain?

Quite the opposite, or almost.

For the 10 years of QSI, the club of the capital made things big with an already XXL transfer window: “Gini” Wijnaldum, Achraf Hakimi, Sergio Ramos and “Gigio” Donnarumma joined the Red and Blue.

Until further notice, Kylian Mbappé is still there.

And Mauricio Pochettino has stayed, despite persistent rumors of leaving at the start of the summer.

"

I am very happy with the work done so far

", jubilant "Poche".

And it is probably not over ...

An encore team against Lille

Problem ? Between a few physical glitches here and there and the post-Euro and Copa America, PSG is not complete since the recovery. And it won't be this Sunday either. “

We do not choose the moment of a final. We have to adapt to it. We do not have the entire workforce, that's for sure, but there is no excuse before this final

”, promises Pochettino, who will rely in particular on Keylor Navas, Mauro Icardi, Julian Draxler or even Abdou Diallo to try to glean the 15th Champions Trophy in the history of the club and the ninth in a row.

And perhaps also on young people, largely empowered this summer. “

At the training center, there is potential, very good players. We must now wait until the end of the transfer window to see the places available in the workforce,

”slips Pochettino, recently extended.

Decreased or not, PSG will obviously arrive in Israel with the idea of ​​bringing the cup home.

We are approaching this match with a lot of desire and determination.

We can't wait to get the season off to a good start with this final against a great Lille team.

", Summarizes Idrissa Gueye, regularly decked out in the captain's armband during this"

special

"

preparation

.

"

The armband belongs to Marquinhos,

" smiles the Senegalese international, who will soon return it to the Brazilian defender, one of the many absent from Paris with Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Marco Verratti, on vacation, or Mbappé, still too fair.

“It's not a revenge against Lille.

It's more of a revenge against ourselves.

"

Mauricio Pochettino, PSG coach

In addition to the title, Paris will certainly be keen to beat the pawn to these Lille residents who stole the title of champion of France at the end of last season.

Time for revenge?

It's not a revenge against Lille.

It's more of a revenge against ourselves.

Not having won the title in Ligue 1 and leaving the track in the Champions League semi-finals against Manchester City, it leaves a bitter taste.

We will do everything to change this situation,

”insists Mauricio Pochettino.

To read also: Pochettino before Lille-PSG: "Not a revenge against Losc but against ourselves"

A season that he dreams of finishing with the Cup with the big ears in his hands. In the meantime, make way for the more modest Champions Trophy, one week before the resumption of the Ligue 1 vintage 2021-22. It will be in Metz for the Mastiffs and in Troyes, for Paris.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2021-08-01

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