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PSG: respect, title, reconciliation… The stakes of a tasteless but potentially explosive end to the season

2022-04-02T18:42:54.231Z


DECRYPTION – Eliminated in C1 and in the Coupe de France, Paris-SG aims to end the season with the title of champion in their pocket, but not only.


Two more months.

A little less in fact, seven weeks.

And God knows that some are counting the days between now and the end of the season in Paris, within the club as well as in the stands.

Released under the conditions that we know in the Champions League and eliminated in the Coupe de France, the capital club still has nine matches on the menu before the skittle and the reception of Metz on May 21, on the occasion of the multiplex of the 38th day of Ligue 1. Starting with the one against FC Lorient this Sunday (8:45 p.m.), during the 30th round, the first after an international cut which cost some people dearly, in particular the Italians Marco Verratti and Gianluigi Donnarumma, but also at PSG, whose infirmary is full.

Ten absent against the Merlus, including Verratti (hamstrings), Keylor Navas (adductors) and Angel Di Maria (muscular problem).

"

The players left for selection and that presented other problems but it allowed the players to change their environment

, ”underlines Mauricio Pochettino, assuring that “

the team is doing much better

”.

That's good, because there is still work to do before the end of the season and several goals to achieve.

To discover

  • Calendar and results Ligue 1

  • League 1 standings

Claim the tenth championship title

"

We must focus on the tenth league title, it's an important objective

," insists Pochettino.

It is indeed the only title still within reach of the Parisians, eliminated in C1 and in the Coupe de France after being beaten at the start of the season during the Champions Trophy.

With ten titles, Paris Saint-Germain would equal AS Saint-Etienne, the national record holder in this area.

A championship title is important

sums up “Poche”, even if many tend to forget it.

A priori, all the lights are green.

If Paris is not as dominant as in recent years, it is an understatement, the followers do not put an insurmountable pressure on him.

After the draw between Nice and Rennes on Saturday (1-1), and while waiting for ASSE-OM this Sunday afternoon (3 p.m.), PSG are 12 points ahead in the French championship standings over their runners-up Rennes and Marseille ( 65 points against 53) and 14 on their Nice executioners of the Coupe de France (4th, 51 pts).

Note that Stade Rennes has a higher goal difference than Paris-SG (+35 against +32).

If we continue to perform like that, it is sure that the title is in danger.

The alert is there

”, had launched Marquinhos after Monaco (0-3).

Read alsoPSG: Pochettino calls on supporters to “put aside bad feelings” to better aim for the title

Display a professional attitude and simply “respect each other” on the meadow

The title of champion should therefore not be trivialized for this PSG which dreams especially bigger on the European scene.

This would be the minimum in terms of awards.

Basically, Parisians must also and above all show a professional, diligent, concerned face.

The base… Not like in Monaco, during a mock match.

Clearly, Neymar and company didn't want to play.

Shame… “

We must respect the supporters who support us, the people, our families and we are going to get this tenth title of champion of France

”, had thundered Kylian Mbappé, without filter and hot, on

Prime Video

.

And to add:

You have to respect yourself, it's important.

If we have a minimum of esteem for what we do, what we want to be, what we aspire to be, we must respect each other.

" All is said.

Good news ?

Pochettino says he "

found a group with better feelings

" after the international break.

Not luxury knowing "

that after Real Madrid, Bordeaux and the week before the match in Monaco, it was difficult times, the most difficult that we have experienced here with sadness, bitterness

", loose the technician 50-year-old Argentinian.

Read alsoLigue 1: without soul or pride, PSG sinks into shame

Reconcile with the Park, try...

It will be hard… The Ultras have promised that they will remain “

mobilized until real major changes are put in place

” at PSG, demanding until the departure of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi.

And so far, we haven't seen anything coming… They let their anger speak against Bordeaux (3-0) and there is no reason to imagine a warming up this Sunday against Lorient.

Present but not amnesiac

”, could we read on a banner deployed Tuesday evening, during the quarter-final return of C1 ladies between PSG and Bayern (2-2), at the Parc des Princes, in front of 27,000 spectators gathered to encourage the "

warriors

Parisians, including many Ultras.

The atmosphere should be less hot against the Hakes despite the calls for calm and unity launched by Pochettino on Saturday: "

Beyond the frustration, the rage, the bitterness after the C1 and Monaco, it's time to come together around this common goal, the championship.

With the support of the supporters, it will be easier to win this match, this important title in the eyes of all.

Maybe it's time to let go of those bad feelings, remembering what happened.

“Message… not received: the CUP will be “

present but silent

” this Sunday.

Read alsoPSG: Neymar and Messi targeted, Mbappé spared, “resignation management”… Story of a lunar afternoon in Paris

Show that there is a pilot on the Paris Saint-Germain plane… or not

Does PSG lack a leader?

After the European discomfiture and the Monegasque slap, it is not forbidden to think so... If he has always shown himself to be irreproachable in the game and the state of mind, at least until Madrid, Marquinhos is not maybe not the boss Paris needs.

This end of the season can allow us to see more clearly in this area.

There are debates that are sometimes unfounded.

There is not just one form of leadership, it is not only among the players but also in the staff, the management

”, corrects “Poche”.

And to add:

We had a great disappointment against Real.

For a club like PSG which is looking for a title in C1, it's always hard… But there have been very great players, coaches, sports directors who have passed through the club.

I don't think we should talk about a lack of leadership at PSG

.

We're going to do it anyway.

By the end of the season and again during the summer transfer window, especially if the so-called Kylian Mbappé were to leave the ship, he who has everything from the real boss.

A role that he has already appropriated without wearing the captain's armband.

Remember that Sergio Ramos had been recruited to guide the group, not just sell shirts.

His calves decided otherwise... The 36-year-old former captain of Real has only played five matches so far in Paris.

Six this Sunday?

According to

RMC Sports

, he is nevertheless determined to stay.

Read alsoPSG: 10 (very) good reasons to stay in Paris for Mbappé

Beat OM

If it has lost its strength as the gap between the two clubs has widened since 2011, the rivalry between PSG and OM is not trivial for the supporters of the two clubs.

And given their anger at the moment, Parisian fans would appreciate a success against Marseille all the more on Sunday April 17 (8:45 p.m.), at the Parc des Princes, during the 32nd day of Ligue 1. A Classic that will be worth elsewhere expensive in the race for the title and the podium.

In any case, Paris-SG cannot be officially crowned on April 17.

What if OM revived the suspense by winning at the Parc, as was the case in 2020?

It's not impossible, even if the conditions (Covid, empty stadium, start of the season, etc.) were very special on this occasion.

In a tasteless but potentially explosive end to the season,

Read alsoMercato: why AS Monaco trembles at the idea of ​​Mbappé leaving free this summer

Honors for Mbappé… and Messi?

Beyond the collective objectives, Kylian Mbappé can feed a certain number of individual objectives.

Bondy's crack, whose future is still uncertain a few weeks before the end of his contract, is indeed in the running for a third title of best player in the championship at the end of the season, the third in a row (the trophy was not awarded at the end of the 2019-20 campaign, Ed).

He would thus equal one of his predecessors at PSG, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

That's not all: Mbappé can also aim for the title of top scorer (15 goals) and best passer (10).

At the moment, he is ahead of Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco, 17 goals) and Martin Terrier (Rennes, 16) in the number of goals, and by Benjamin Bourigeaud (Rennes, 11) in assists.

Lionel Messi is on par with Mbappé when it comes to caviars (10).

King of scorers for the past three seasons, Kylian Mbappé has never won the title of best passer.

And no one has ever won both trophies at the same time.

Chick?

The young (19) Nuno Mendes could meanwhile scratch a few votes for a potential title of best hope in Ligue 1.

The PSG program in Ligue 1: against Lorient this Sunday (8:45 p.m.), in Clermont (April 9, 9 p.m.), against OM (April 17, 8:45 p.m.), in Angers (April 20, 9 p.m.), against Lens (April 23 , 9 p.m.), in Strasbourg (April 29, 9 p.m.), against Troyes (date not defined), in Montpellier (date not defined) and against Metz (May 21).

Note that the most fanatic Parisian supporters will also be able to follow the continuation of the European women's epic, qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League against OL.

First leg match on April 23 in Lyon and return a week later, in Paris, probably at the Parc, where there were 27,000 spectators on Tuesday, a record

.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2022-04-02

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