Is PSG ready for the Champions League?
Éric Roy would answer
“yes”
, assuring that Real Sociedad, the Parisians' opponent next Wednesday, will
“not be able to resist the offensive bursts”
of Luis Enrique's team and its
“ability to make differences”
.
“They are gaining momentum
,” said the Brest coach again on Wednesday.
And he is well placed to give his opinion, he whose team has come up against PSG three times since the start of the season, including two in the last 10 days.
The first two times, Brest recovered to 2-2 after being down 2-0.
Paris won down to the wire at Francis-Le-Blé, before conceding a draw at Parc.
This time, the Rouge et Bleu won 3-1.
“The good news is that we won't play them anymore
,” breathes Luis Enrique, not failing to sing the praises of the third in the L1 standings and saluting the
“very complete match”
of his own team.
To discover
Coupe de France: schedule and results
One thing is certain: this qualification cannot do any harm in one week of the C1... even if the choices of coach Roy, who put his executives to rest, and the expulsion of Lilian Brassier, author of an attack on Kylian Mbappé, have arranged Parisian affairs well.
“It’s important to win, to do what we work on in training.
It's always reassuring.
Important to win before Real Sociedad?
Yes, we know it would be a very big match.
Gaining confidence beforehand is very good
,” confirms Bradley Barcola, back from suspension on Wednesday evening.
And added:
“It’s been a big month since we lost.
We are on a good dynamic
. ”
Even better than what the former Lyonnais thinks in fact, since the French champions have not suffered defeat since November 7 against Milan (2-1).
Read also PSG-Brest notes: Mbappé inspired, winning comeback for Dembélé, Brassier as gravedigger
It's not an untouchable Paris.
Hugo Magnetti
This doesn't mean everything is perfect.
“If we stay at 11 against 11, maybe we can still shake them up
,” complains Hugo Magnetti, captain on Wednesday, believing that PSG is
“not untouchable.
We proved it by coming back to the first leg, even though they won, and also the second leg.
Today they won.
But it is not an untouchable Paris.
It's a very good team, which has a well-defined style of play and which does it quite well.
But like any team, they have flaws.
For our part, we tried to play on their flaws.
It worked for us.
This evening, a little less..."
It remains to be seen whether the Basques will be more able to exploit the flaws of Paris-SG.
Luis Enrique, for his part, notes that
the “defensive attitude”
of his team is improving.
“We pressed more and better
,” he adds, noting that the French champions
“scored again by pressing high”
and were
“inspired in creation
. ”
Beyond the quality of the opponent, if this PSG-Brest served as a rehearsal, it is because Luis Enrique had lined up the big armada.
That changes... With the exception of Lucas Hernandez, suspended on Wednesday, it is undoubtedly the 11th who will start against Real Sociedad.
Or at least, it won't be far from being the case.
The Spanish coach was notably able to reconstitute his preferred attacking trio with Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé, the latter showing himself particularly inspired between two tackles from Brassier.
We will closely follow the next medical releases from PSG.
According to
RMC
, the first tests are reassuring, but with ankle sprains, you always have to wait a little... Beyond the attacking trio, “Lucho” has also and above all found his magical duo on the right, with “Dembouz” and Ashraf Hakimi.
“With or without this doublet, it’s not the same team
,” recognizes Éric Roy.
This right side will once again be a major asset against Real Sociedad and for the rest of the season, that is clear and clear.
Also read: PSG: big scare for Mbappé's ankle, more fear than harm?
Paradox
In the meantime, Paris-SG created danger and scored in different phases of play, great collective actions and of course, transitions.
“If you lose the ball in your 40 meters, you can quickly be penalized
,” analyzes Éric Roy.
And to continue:
“They know how to have a lot of possession but even if they don't have control, they can do very badly.
This is the paradox of this PSG.
When you see Barcola, Mbappé, Dembélé leave…”
, he gets excited, believing that these are
“full bursts”
which are the strength of the Parisian team.
This was already the case in the past, during the time of
“
MNM
”
(Mbappé, Neymar, Messi) for example.
But there was no mastery
“
made in Luis Enrique
”
.
“Since day one, my goal has been to coordinate my players efficiently and coherently, both in attack and defense
,” recalls Luis Enrique.
His team, which once again started the second half in reverse before, this time, finishing strong, will have a final test on Saturday (9 p.m.), against Jonathan David's Losc.
The final rehearsal before C1.
It remains to be seen whether it will be with Mbappé...