Four losses, elimination from the cup and conceding eight goals in the last five games.
This is the unflattering record of Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, quite different from the clean record of losses in the first part of the season, before the World Cup games.
Although the French champions are still in first place in the league and hold a gap of five points from the second Marseille, but the ability is worrying, the fans are angry, the players are apologizing and this evening the German champions come to Paris for the first match in the round of 16 of the Champions League.
"You can't hide, we're not in good shape," said coach Christophe Galtier, "I'm definitely worried about the game against Bayern Munich."
Galatea.
Afraid of Bayern Munich?, Photo: IPA
The decline in PSG's ability is directly related to the World Cup.
Before the tournament, the team was, as mentioned, undefeated in all competitions, one of the only ones in Europe, with a stable defense and a brilliant attack.
In those days before Qatar, the Parisians relied heavily on the personal ability of Kylian Mbappe (25 goals in all competitions), Neymar (17 goals and 10 assists) and Leo Messi (15 and 12), who had not yet recovered - mentally and physically.
Balance problem
Mbappe stunned with five in the cup against a team from a lower league, but in the league he scored only one goal since the World Cup and recently he was also injured.
The star is back in training and may be fit for tonight's game, like Messi, who missed the last league loss to Monaco due to pain.
The Argentinian took a long rest after lifting the cup with Argentina, and since then has shown inconsistent ability.
In the league he scored three goals, but in the loss to Marseille in the cup he was below his level and could not carry the team.
And there is Neymar, who was amazing and sharp before the World Cup, after which he scored only one league goal and one cup goal.
Against Monaco, when he was the only one of the big trio, the Brazilian failed to express himself.
According to reports, Neymar criticized his attacking teammates, especially Hugo Akitika, and clashed with professional manager Luis Campos, who claimed a "lack of aggression" from PSG players.
Ramos (right) and Marquinius.
The back link is not attached, photo: AFP
The Big Three is not PSG's only problem.
Before the World Cup, it was one of the best defensive teams in Europe, one that conceded ten goals in 16 rounds, but now they have already put 20 balls out of the net, not including the two that knocked them out of the cup.
No matter the formation with which Galtieri comes up, the defensive part is not strong enough and even the good ability of Gigi Donnarumma does not help.
The combination of Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos is not perfect, attempts to combine the young Bitciabo were not successful and PSG kept a clean sheet only once since the beginning of the year.
The suspension of Marco Verratti also hurt the team, because without him there is no one to hold the middle.
The faltering Renato Sanchez was injured, Carlos Soler and Fabian Ruiz were unimpressive, and at the beginning of 2023, PSG became an unbalanced and unimpressive team.
"Staying united"
PSG's rival, Bayern Munich, also has problems of its own.
The veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is injured and the attack did not hurt until the last victory 2:4 over Wolfsburg, but it seems that the situation of the Germans is relatively better than that of the French.
Chupo-moting.
Bayern's attack also squeaks, photo: Getty mages
At the end of the game against Monaco, the spirits were so upset in PSG's camp, also because of the loss and especially because of the ability, that the brakeman Francel Kimpamba had to take a Magaphone and address the team's fans directly.
"We must remain united despite everything that is happening," he told the disappointed audience, "that is the main message."
This is all well and good, but the fans are not interested in slogans, they want to win the Champions League, and in the current situation it seems like a very distant dream.
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