All Not Well at PSG Despite Going Top of Ligue1Despite scoring a hattrick that put his team back on top of Ligue1 Kylian Mbappe was not immune to criticism from his coach Luis Enrique as PSG ran out 3:0 winners at Riems.
Speaking after the game Enrique said of Mbappe: “I’m not really happy with Kylian today. I have nothing to say about the goals but he can help the team more in different ways. I am going to watch the match again and talk to him about it first, not you. Kylian is one of the best players in the world but we need more. We want him to do more things. That is my opinion, maybe I am wrong.” Mbappe naturally had his own say on the game when speaking to Prime Video about his sixth PSG hat-trick - and first since August 2022 - saying: “Of course, it feels good to score a hat-trick but the most important thing is to have a good feeling in the game. In all modesty, I don’t need to play well to score, but what I want is to play well and score.” PSG Fail Again On Their TravelsPSG went down 2:1 in the San Siro despite taking an early lead through Milan Skriniar.
Speaking after the game Kylian Mbappe said "It is a defeat, a second defeat away from home, it is never easy to lose, we are disappointed. We failed in quite a few things and we will try to respond at home against Newcastle." PSG were not at their best and although Mbappe described AC Milan’s performance as “exceptional” the truth was that neither side looked anywhere like producing the form that they showed last season. The result leaves the so called Group of Death wide open going into the last two rounds of fixtures. PSG Ready to Face AC Milan despite Injury ConcernsPSG go into their Champions League fixture with AC Milan at the San Siro without the injured Danilo Pereira, Keylor Navas, Nuno Medes and Presnel Kimpembe.
Kylian Mbappé is fit however and will start alongside Randal Kolo Muani. The game will see PSG’S goalkeeper keeper Gigio Donnarumma facing his old club. PSG Breeze Past MontpellierParis Saint-Germain went top of Ligue 1 on Friday night with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Montpellier.
The hosts took the lead after 10 minutes through Lee who fired into the top corner set up by a cross from Achraf Hakimi. PSG's exciting 17-year-old prospect Zaire-Emery got their second on 58 minutes when he latched on to a Ousmane Dembele's back-heel to fire the ball home. And eight minutes later it was Hakimi who again was the provider as he crossed for substitute Vitinha to hammer to make it 3:0. PSG Top Group After Dominant win over AC MilanPSG went top of Group F with a clinical 3:0 win over AC Milan with the goals coming from Mbappé in the 32nd minute, Kolo Muani on 53 and Lee Kang-in rounding things off in the final minute.
Speaking after the game Head coach Luis Enrique said: "I'm happy, very happy! It started with mistakes, with a lack of confidence. In the first 20 or 25 minutes, I'd say. We were full of doubt. Kylian's goal calmed us down. In the second half, I think we were better than our opponents. In a match at this level, you can't dominate the whole game. We didn't suffer defensively, but we weren't precise. So instead of being in our opponents' half, we were more in our own half. In the second half, I think the players were liberated by the goal. We had more confidence and the game started with Ousmane's goal. It's a shame it was disallowed, but after that, the team continued to create chances. In the end, it was a great win. Back To Winning Ways for PSGGoals from Mbappé (10'minutes pen), Soler (31'minutes),and Ruiz (77'minutes) saw PSG run out 3:0 winners at home to Strasburg on Saturday but they stay in third place in Ligue 1 behind first place Monaco and Nice, who sit above them in second place
Memories of Sir Bobby Robson for PSG Head Coach EnriqueLuis Enrique remembered the part Sir Bobby Robson had to play in his football development at Barcelona as he stood alongside the bust of Sir Bobby that adorns the players entrance at St James’ Park following his pre match press conference.
Enrique only played under Robson for one season but like many who crossed his path, Robson left an indelible mark on Enrique, and he voiced that as he posed for the inevitable photographs, saying: "He did mean a lot to me." Enrique also echoed the words of no doubt most European coaches when the draw for the qualifying round was made, when he said: "They're the team from the fourth pot that nobody wanted. We know they play at a high level. They are almost a complete football team. They play with a high press and any team would fear that. "They will be playing in front of their passionate fans which will help them. All teams can go far and there is no reason why Newcastle can't go far. "Nobody wanted to play the because of last season. "It is a hostile but spectacular place to play. I am envious of my players because they get to play in that atmosphere." Mentioning the crowd and the atmosphere inside St James’ Park was also partly down to Enrique’s own experience of an evening 26 years ago when Enrique himself scored for Barcelona in the game that marked Newcastle’s first foray into the Champions league when a Tino Asprilla hattrick lit up the stadium: "It was a tough game, and it feels like a lifetime ago. The game was tough, and I scored but it finished 3-2. "They had great players and a great atmosphere. It wasn't easy then and I don't suppose it will be now either." Frustration all round for PSGPSG played out a 0:0 draw at Clermont on Saturday and in doing so missed out on going top of Ligue1. The result however did lift their opponents from the bottom spot.
Kylian Mbappe had a frustrating afternoon, topped off by a late booking for diving. Luis Enrique's side sit in second place behind surprise league leaders Brest; their lowest tally at this stage of a season since the 2010-11 campaign. Mbappe Hobbles off as PSG Demolish MarseilleGoals from Achraf Hakimi, Randal Kolo Muani and two from Goncalo Ramos eased PSG to a 4:0 home win against Marseille on Sunday evening but the big talking point was the withdrawal of Kilian Mbappe in the 32ndminute after struggling to run off a heavy challenge from Marseille centre back Leonardo Balerdi.
However, the game was marred by Anti-gay chanting from sections of PSG fans targeting Marseille players, prompting calls for sanctions to be imposed on the French Champions. The fixture does have a history of such chanting. Four years some home fans used anti-gay insults. This resulted in Ligue introduced a process to allow spectators to report any sexist, anti-gay or racist incidents they witness. The abuse however has not stopped. On the field PSG dominated from start to finish. Hakimi’s goal direct from a free kick in the eighth minute was his third goal this season and it set PSG on their way. Mauni added the second on 37 minutes. Ramos, who came on to replace Mbappe got the first of his brace on 47 minutes; his second coming in the dying minutes of normal time. The win moved PSG up to third place in Ligue 1, two points behind early league leaders Brest. PSG's Next FixturePSG are back in action on Sunday evening when they face Marseille. Kick Off is at 19:45
PSG off to Winning StartPSG picked up maximum points from their clash with Dortmund with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Achrat Hakimi.
Mbappe was on target from the penalty spot following the intervention of VAR that confirmed the referee’s on-field call after his shot struck the arm of Niklas Süle. Hakimi then sealed a win that PSG thoroughly deserved with some sublime play that saw Vitinha playing a perfect backheel to Hakimi before the pair exchanged passes resulting in the Moroccan international slotting the ball home with the outside of his right foot. Reflecting on the win, head coach Luis Enrique was had this to say. "I am very satisfied, very happy for the team, for the players, and for the fans. I liked the attitude of the players because from the very first minute, we were able to create goal-scoring opportunities. In the second half, we needed to replicate what we did in the first half, by dominating the game, staying in control against good opposition, who know how to play good football. And I think we were the better side and deserved the victory. This type of match is very motivating for the players, but you have to manage your energy, control when you play, the intensity, and not overdo it because overexcitement is not good. However, I think the team performed very well and dominated the match, except for the last 15 minutes when there was too much back and forth, but I am really very happy and satisfied." Next stop for PSG on their Champions league journey is a visit to St James’s Park on 4th October. Draxler departs for QatarOn the eve of their Champions league opener at home to Dortmund, PSG announced that their German International Julian Draxler had left the club to join Qatari side Al Ahli SC on a two-year contract.
Draxler, who spent last season on loan at Benfica joins teammates Marco Verratti and Abdou Diallo who also moved to Qatar this season, with both players joining Al Arabi. Injury Concerns for Enrique ahead of Dortmund ClashLuis Enrique has a number of players unavailable for selection ahead of their game against Dortmund, including Marco Asencio who has been ruled out for the rest of the month owing to a foot injury.
Hamstring victims Nordi Mukiele and Nuno Mendes are not quite ready to return, while Presnel Kimpembe’s Achilles tendon see’s him unavailable. Fabien Ruiz is doubtful after sitting out the loss to Nice with a thigh problem. Midfielder Lee Kang-in is still sidelined while Sergio Rico remains on the long road to recovery after his harrowing head injury after a horse riding accident during the close season; fellow goalkeeper Alexandre Letellier (knee) is also absent. Due to their late returns from South America, Marquinhos and Manuak Ugarte were not considered for starting place on Friday night, but are expected to line up against Dortmund, replacing Danilo Pereira and Carlos Soler. Enrique reflects on home defeatHead coach Luis Enrique was in reflective mode after his PSG's teams home defeat to Nice.
"They were a very tough team, with a very attractive game plan. I must congratulate their coach, Francesco Farioli, on his ideas, which are very similar to what I like as a coach. I don't think the team was as fresh as usual. Physically, I think they were superior to us and then they were very good in all the counter-attacking situations and, finally, I think Nice deserved the win. I think the team really felt that first goal. It's also a goal where we were unlucky because there were two saves, they shot twice, it hit one of our defenders, it went in oddly, but I don't want to make excuses either. We need to raise our game if we really want to be competitive in the next few games. And that starts with the coach." |
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Stats don't look good for Enrique
The stats don’t make for good reading for PSG head coach Luis Enrique as he surveys the damage from last night’s home defeat. They show that his team has collected only eight points after their first five matches, their lowest tally since the 2010–11 season, which coincidentally is the season before the Qatar Sports Investment takeover.
PSG Slip to Defeat
PSG slipped to third in Ligue 1 following a 3:2 home defeat to Nice on Friday Night. Kylian Mbappe scored twice, his second coming three minutes from time. However, his teammates were unable to salvage a point as Nice held on for all three points and in doing so are one of four teams still unbeaten in the top-flight this season, along with Rennes, Marseille and Monaco.
Asensio OutMarco Asensio faces at least three weeks on the treatment table. PSG's summer signing from Real Madrid was injured while on international duty with Spain and may anot be fit in time to face Newcastle Utd on 4th October.
Mbappe Injury DoubtLuis Enrique was handed an injury concern with the news that Kylian Mbappe sat out Les Bleus' friendly loss to Germany with a knee problem. Early indications are that the injury is not serious and Mbappe is expected to be back in training before PSG face Nice on Friday evening but Parisians will have to wait until just prior to lick off to see whether Enrique chooses to risk Mbappe or hold him back to face Dortmund in their champions league opener on Tuesday.
Verratti Departs PSGOne player who Newcastle Utd won’t be facing when PSG rock up at St James’ Park is Italian International Marco Verratti who departed PSG for Qatar club Al-Arabi last weekend.
Verratti spent more than a decade, at PSG having joined them in 2012. He made 276 league appearances and scored seven goals for the Parisians, winning the Ligue 1 title nine times. |
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PSG: Season to Date
Last season fizzled out with acrimonious feelings from the stands towards Neymar and particularly Lionel Messi and few among the Rouge et Bleu ultras were disappointed by their departure.
The feeling among the majority of their fanbase was that the club needed a reset and move away from a Paris’ version of the Galactico’s that the owners had created, with more emphasis on ‘team rather than individual’.
15 new faces arrived in the close season for an outlay of 346.5m euros. While there were 16 departures for a return of 140m euros, with a further 11 players departing on loan.
PSG started their season with a goalless draw at home to a resolutely defensive FC Lorient.
With six new summer signings in the line-up in what was Head Coach Luis Enrique’s first league game in charge much was expected. And despite the scoreline, the PSG supporters inside the Parc De France were treated to a display of attacking and free flowing football that defied the lack of goals.
Milan Skriniar, Gonçalo Ramos, Lucas Hernandez, Manuel Ugarte, Lee Kang-in and Marco Asensio, were the 6 new signings that featured in Enrique’s starting eleven.
PSG were assured from start to finish; producing chance after chance, along with an intensity with and without the ball and a desire to excite.
Their second fixture of the season saw PSG travel to Toulouse, where they played out a 1:1 draw, with Kylian Mbappe scoring from the penalty spot following his re-introduction to the PSG first team squad after a summer of acrimony and stalemate on a supposed to transfer out of Paris.
Mbappe was joined by new signing Moussa Dembele, who arrived from Barcelona. Both started on the bench and were introduced by Enrique early in the second half with immediate result.
Toulouse equalized from a penalty spot with four minutes of normal time remaining and although PSG had to settle for a point, the scoreline did not reflect the dominant performance of Enrique’s team, Toulouse did show more than their previous opponents Lorient.
Game week 3 saw PSG face Racing Club de Lens and they ran out 3:1 winner with goals from Asensio – his first of the season – and two goals from Mbappe. The game proved to be far more testing than their previous two fixtures but the manner of the scoreline showed how Enrique is starting to see his sides slick passing and movement coupled with both a desire to press with and without the ball being rewarded with goals.
Their next outing saw PSG head to Lyon where a normal hostile atmosphere was extinguished by half time, with four first half goals. A penalty converted by Mbappe after only four minutes was followed by goals by Hakimi and Asensio putting Enrique’s side 3:0 up inside 38 minutes. Mbappe added a fourth in time added on in the first half.
The action didn’t end there but there were no further goals from the Rouge et Bleu while Lyon did pull one goal back in the 74th minute as PSG ran out 4:1 winners.
The result saw the Parisians move up to second place in La Ligue behind early leaders Monaco.
Their next fixture is a home game on Friday 15th September against OGC Nice, before getting their champions league campaign off to a start with the arrival of Dortmund to the Parc De Prince the following Tuesday.
The feeling among the majority of their fanbase was that the club needed a reset and move away from a Paris’ version of the Galactico’s that the owners had created, with more emphasis on ‘team rather than individual’.
15 new faces arrived in the close season for an outlay of 346.5m euros. While there were 16 departures for a return of 140m euros, with a further 11 players departing on loan.
PSG started their season with a goalless draw at home to a resolutely defensive FC Lorient.
With six new summer signings in the line-up in what was Head Coach Luis Enrique’s first league game in charge much was expected. And despite the scoreline, the PSG supporters inside the Parc De France were treated to a display of attacking and free flowing football that defied the lack of goals.
Milan Skriniar, Gonçalo Ramos, Lucas Hernandez, Manuel Ugarte, Lee Kang-in and Marco Asensio, were the 6 new signings that featured in Enrique’s starting eleven.
PSG were assured from start to finish; producing chance after chance, along with an intensity with and without the ball and a desire to excite.
Their second fixture of the season saw PSG travel to Toulouse, where they played out a 1:1 draw, with Kylian Mbappe scoring from the penalty spot following his re-introduction to the PSG first team squad after a summer of acrimony and stalemate on a supposed to transfer out of Paris.
Mbappe was joined by new signing Moussa Dembele, who arrived from Barcelona. Both started on the bench and were introduced by Enrique early in the second half with immediate result.
Toulouse equalized from a penalty spot with four minutes of normal time remaining and although PSG had to settle for a point, the scoreline did not reflect the dominant performance of Enrique’s team, Toulouse did show more than their previous opponents Lorient.
Game week 3 saw PSG face Racing Club de Lens and they ran out 3:1 winner with goals from Asensio – his first of the season – and two goals from Mbappe. The game proved to be far more testing than their previous two fixtures but the manner of the scoreline showed how Enrique is starting to see his sides slick passing and movement coupled with both a desire to press with and without the ball being rewarded with goals.
Their next outing saw PSG head to Lyon where a normal hostile atmosphere was extinguished by half time, with four first half goals. A penalty converted by Mbappe after only four minutes was followed by goals by Hakimi and Asensio putting Enrique’s side 3:0 up inside 38 minutes. Mbappe added a fourth in time added on in the first half.
The action didn’t end there but there were no further goals from the Rouge et Bleu while Lyon did pull one goal back in the 74th minute as PSG ran out 4:1 winners.
The result saw the Parisians move up to second place in La Ligue behind early leaders Monaco.
Their next fixture is a home game on Friday 15th September against OGC Nice, before getting their champions league campaign off to a start with the arrival of Dortmund to the Parc De Prince the following Tuesday.
