Paris (AFP)
The challenge, already complex after disillusionment in the Champions League series, was reinforced by an unexpected closed door: defeated 2-1 in the first leg, PSG is condemned to the feat against Dortmund in the last 8th return leg Wednesday (9:00 p.m. / 8:00 p.m. GMT), despite the absence of its supporters.
Will Paris be stronger than Erling Haaland's coronavirus and Borussia? With or without its star Kylian Mbappé, absent in training due to angina but hoped for in the Parisian eleven, the French club must achieve the perfect European match in an empty and soulless Parc des Princes.
At stake, access to the European Top 8 which has been denied to him since 2016, and the credibility of the Qatari project, programmed for the greatest success thanks to its staggering investments since 2011 but which has become the laughingstock of the footballing world by its propensity to scuttle at key moments.
On the outward journey, the boosted atmosphere of the "Yellow Wall" had transcended the Dortmund players to allow them to win the first round. On the return, Paris counted on the support of its 48,000 supporters to reverse the situation during the most important meeting of its season. Missed !
French authorities decided otherwise on Monday due to the spread of the Covid-19, which contaminated more than 1,600 people in the territory according to the latest official report.
As if the PSG, traumatized by three consecutive eliminations in the 8th finals of C1, saw the fate beating down on its European dream after the two injuries of Neymar, the "remount" of Barcelona in 2017, the lesson of Real Madrid in 2018 and the incredible comeback of Manchester United in 2019 ...
- "Weird" atmosphere, incredulous supporters -
The Parisian vice-captain Marquinhos wanted a postponement to be able to play in front of his audience? A wish impossible to materialize for UEFA, constrained by a tight schedule. What to despair the Parisian supporters, incredulous in front of such a curse ...
If the players will probably never see the tifo prepared for several weeks by the Collectif ultras Paris (CUP), the main group of supporters however invited Parisian fans to meet on Wednesday in front of the Park around 7:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. GMT), so that "the players hear from the outside."
In the stadium, the atmosphere promises to be "bizarre", as recognized by Parisian coach Thomas Tuchel on Tuesday. "We are going to play without spectators, without supporters. In a match like this, it is super important to create a special atmosphere, to create pressure on our opponents."
Outclassed in Dortmund by the ardor of Erling Haaland and the tactical intelligence of Emre Can, two players recruited this winter at the price of a Leandro Paredes, PSG paid for its poor preparation between stereotypical play, based on the lightning of its individualities, and defensive block too brittle.
Main target of criticism? Thomas Tuchel, author of a failed tactical bet on the way out. The German technician, who plays his future in the capital, is condemned to rely this time on his preferential 4-4-2.
- Mbappé "can be in the group" -
With which players? If the identity of the starting lineup is 80% known, two major players still raise questions: Kylian Mbappé and Thiago Silva.
The Parisian captain, engaged in a race against the clock after his muscle injury, is on the verge of winning his bet.
As for the sick French world champion, he has missed the last two training sessions. What sow doubt about his participation? "I think he may be in the group," Tuchel hoped, without saying more.
All the best Parisian weapons will be necessary because Dortmund, for its part, continued unhindered its preparation by winning Saturday in Mönchengladbach (2-1) in the Bundesliga.
The confidence is such on the German side, that the boss of Borussia, Hans-Joachim Watzke, has even allowed himself a media pressure: "For (Parisians), the world will collapse if they are eliminated. I believe that we now have a psychological benefit. "
With a budget almost twice lower than the PSG (377.1 against 635.9 M EUR, according to the cabinet Deloitte), Dortmund does not have the same pressure.
Since its final lost in 2013, Borussia has even reached the quarters only once ... with Thomas Tuchel on the bench. The one who is now the coach of PSG is doomed to do at least as well in his new colors to avoid Paris yet another industrial disaster.
© 2020 AFP