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Mbappé responds
All eyes were on him.
As usual, you might say.
A little more this time.
After three complicated weeks, following the announcement of his departure, Kylian Mbappé was expected around the corner at Anoeta.
He responded.
Author of a double and a full match, the future ex-Parisian, captain Tuesday in the absence of Marquinhos, confirmed what we already knew but which we tended to forget due to the controversies: c He's a crack player, a world-class player, a top player.
As comfortable on the pitch as in front of the microphones, he also caused a sensation after the game:
“I have many problems, but not with the coach”
.
Understand what you want.
In the meantime, it was especially him who caused problems for Real Sociedad (2-1 victory).
From the great Mbappé.
Public, teammates, PSG: we have to take advantage of it because it won't last much longer.
A few more months.
Also read “I have many problems, but the coach is not one”: Mbappé’s enigmatic exit after his recital
Anoeta falls in dignity
The San Sebastian stadium was off to a high start.
A cauldron.
Mbappé calmed the atmosphere from the 16th minute... For a long time, all we heard was the Parisian supporters!
The local fans lost all hope after
“
KM
”
’s second goal at the start of the second half.
But paradoxically this is the moment chosen by Real to regain color, with the energy of despair.
Anoeta followed, regaining his voice and giving captain Mikel Oyarzabal a standing ovation.
The public pushed until the end, burst into flames when the gap was reduced late and applauded their players despite the elimination, a week after the disillusionment in the Copa del Rey.
Respect.
However, the enclosure quickly emptied, leaving plenty of time for the Parisian supporters to sing for many minutes to the glory of the Rouge et Bleu after the qualification.
Read alsoPSG: “Mbappé facing the opposing goal, it’s lethal”, relishes Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique pulled the right strings
We have talked enough about his sometimes mysterious com' and his not always understandable choices.
When it works, you have to say it too.
Luis Enrique had a good Tuesday.
His choice to realign Ousmane Dembélé and bring him down to midfield level created an insoluble surplus for Real.
He stuck Mbappé on the left and put Lucas Hernandez on the right axis in the three-way defense.
Kang-in Lee's entry at the break was well felt.
CLAW STRIKES
La Real, Europa League level
Without taking anything away from PSG's performance, it should be noted that Real Sociedad on Tuesday had little to do with the team that dominated its C1 group, ahead of Inter Milan and Benfica.
“
We were lucky to play them now
,” whispered Luis Enrique after the game.
The Basques had one victory in nine matches before facing Paris and we understood why.
That's one in 10. It was weak, very weak... There is no doubt that Paris-SG will face tougher opposition in the quarters, even if it were against the winner of the duel between Dortmund and PSV Eindhoven or against Porto, who beat Arsenal 1-0 in the first leg.
It could also be Manchester City or Real, on favorable waivers, or Bayern, qualified.
Read also PSG's scores against Real Sociedad: Mbappé royal, Beraldo and Zaire-Emery solid
The end of the match poorly controlled
Overall, Paris-SG played a very consistent game in San Sebastian.
Individually or collectively, there's not much to complain about.
Except perhaps in the management of the end of the match.
After Mbappé's second goal and while Luis Enrique returned to his rotations, PSG was jostled by Real Sociedad.
The qualification was already in the pocket, but still.
“We are very happy, it was the objective to qualify but we also wanted to win, to make the match a little easier.
That's what we did.
We had a clear game plan and we were able to score quickly.
Above all, we didn't get into any major difficulty.
A little at the end, but I think it’s not something that we will notice
,” analyzed Kylian Mbappé after the meeting.
It's not false.
The important thing is elsewhere.
This is qualification for the quarter-finals, the first since 2021 for the French champions.
Read alsoChampions League: Hakimi suspended for PSG's quarter-final first leg
Hakimi, the puzzle
41st minute of play, Achraf Hakimi pressed very high on the pitch.
We're not going to blame him.
Except he wore the sole.
It wasn't necessary... The Moroccan was warned on the spot.
He will miss the quarter-final first leg at the start of April.
A stupid mistake which could have serious consequences.
The Spanish coach only has limited confidence in Nordi Mukiele.
There remains the Warren Zaire-Emery option, or even the DIY Carlos Soler.