“
Each game has its story
”.
This is what the Parisians like to repeat in recent weeks.
And it's still happy.
This is what allows them not to leave defeated in advance against Bayern Munich, in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
First leg at the Parc des Princes this Tuesday (9 p.m., on
Canal+
and
RMC Sport1
), return on March 8 in Munich.
The beautiful promises of the end of summer are far, far away.
Undefeated in the first phase, the Reds and Blues have suffered since the restart after the World Cup.
Already four losses (Lens, Rennes, Marseille, Monaco) and 14 goals conceded in 11 matches, against 16 in 22 matches before Qatar.
The post-World decompression was predictable.
Not at this point…
To discover
Champions League fixtures and results
Individually and collectively, Paris is looking for itself.
White-collar workers have a hard time putting on the overalls, like the Coupe de France match at the Vélodrome last Wednesday (2-1 defeat), where the Parisians were crunched in commitment and intensity.
Summer recruits are struggling to convince, no reinforcements in the winter transfer window, nerves on edge in the locker room like Luis Campos' rant at half-time on Saturday, in Monaco (3-1 defeat), between the players (Neymar and Vitinha) and in the stands (Kimpembe tried to calm things down)… There is fire.
“
When there is frustration, it has to be sort of
”, swears Galtier, Neymar confirming for his part a clash with Campos on Saturday … but speaking of a simple “
discussion
”.
Mbappé, the return
"
It's the most exciting month of my career
", jubilant Galtier before attacking a crazy series (OM, Monaco, Bayern, Lille, OM).
It was without counting on this lengthening air pocket, and the traditional bad luck that does not let go of PSG as major European meetings approach, with a virus before Monaco and cascading physical glitches (Messi, Verratti , Neymar, Mbappé…).
Good news ?
Apart from Nordi Mukiele and Renato Sanches, everyone is on deck.
Even… Kylian Mbappé, initially announced out for three weeks.
It remains to be seen whether Bondy's crack can and/or should start the meeting... "
What is certain is that he will not make an appearance on the bench
", slips Galtier, promising that if Mbappé "
is on the sheet will be for playing.
How long
?
I don't know
”.
It's not the crisis, but a bad patch, a difficult moment.
Presnel Kimpembe
Suspense, therefore, since we must still wait to find out how the person feels, he who was injured on February 1 and who was announced out for three weeks.
"
I did not expect to see him resume (Sunday)
", was surprised Christophe Galtier, first surprised.
In any case, his return obviously represents a huge plus for Paris, in the heads but also tactically, even if he only enters at the end of the match.
However, this should not make Parisians forget that Mbappé has not been missing in recent weeks.
The Coupe de France has already taken off.
There is still Ligue 1 and C1.
"
It's not the crisis, but a bad patch, a difficult time
," promises Presnel Kimpembe, back on Saturday after three months of absence.
worried
”.
“
It would be serious if I wasn't
,” he whispered at the Louis II stadium.
There is something.
Read alsoNeymar before PSG-Bayern: “We are not here to walk around, we want to win all the titles”
And this, especially as Bayern finds colors.
The six-time European champion coughed on resumption, on the field (3 draws) and outside, not to mention the injuries.
Since then, Julian Nagelsmann's players have lined up three victories.
They arrive launched in Paris.
Which Nagelsmann will rely on a fiery attack, certainly without Sadio Mané, but in particular with two ex-Parisians, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, scorer on the way there and back in 2021, during the European quarter-final which opposed the two teams, and the titi Kingsley Coman, executioner of PSG in the final, in Lisbon, in 2020. "
I hope I will have applause, but it can also be whistles ... I will take what there will be
" , blows the tricolor international striker, assuring that Bayern "
does not
".
The predictions favor for Bayern, but…
One thing is certain: at the end of this double confrontation, a “big one” will fall by the wayside.
It remains to be seen which one.
"
We are not here to walk around, we want to win all the titles
", insists Neymar, explaining that with the "MNM" (Mbappé, Neymar, Messi), the champions of France "
feel stronger
".
On the form of the moment, the Bavarians nevertheless leave with the favor of the forecasts.
Especially since they have only experienced one elimination at this stage of the competition over the last 11 seasons (!), for seven appearances in the last four, three finals and two titles (2013, 2020).
At the same time, Paris has only passed the quarterfinals twice (2020, 2021).
My players know how to raise their level of play, their standards and their involvement in these major events.
Christophe Galtier
But we know it well, predictions are not necessarily worth much in the Champions League.
"
It's 50-50
", insists Christophe Galtier.
And to add: “
The team which will be aligned (this Tuesday) will in no way resemble the group which moved to Monaco.
Then, almost all of my players are used to these big meetings.
Certainly, we have a quality opponent.
The draw is thus made.
But I know that my players know how to raise their level of play, their standards and their involvement in these major events.
»
A big meeting that we imagine open in the game, with two teams married to the imbalance.
With or without their Bondynois savior, with also perhaps... the young (16) titi Warren Zaire-Emery in the starting 11, the Parisians will in any case have to make a radical change in attitude with regard to their latest outings.
Otherwise, the European campaign (and the season?) would have every chance of stopping in the round of 16, like last year, as too often.
The previous 11 between PSG and Bayern
Go to slideshow (11)