Paris (AFP)

Beaten in the first leg (2-1), PSG left Manchester City the favorite status before a semi-final return of the Champions League without a net Tuesday in England (9:00 p.m.).

But, even on a thread, Paris clings to its dream of a second final in a row.

At home, last Wednesday, the capital club dropped to one knee, struck by the goals in the second half from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez, like two uppercuts that brought him closer to the knockout.

and a cruel ouster, at the gates of the final in Istanbul on May 29.

Six days later, he has not recovered all his means: uncertain, his striker Kylian Mbappé has pain in his right calf, and midfielder Idrissa Gueye is suspended, after the red card received at the Parc des Princes.

But in the head, the Parisians claim to have drawn a line on this failure that the press interpreted as a new example of the failing mentality of a team which has lost almost all its big matches at home this season.

"We praised our state of mind after qualifying against Barça or Bayern. The mentality, we have it or we do not," swept Mauricio Pochettino.

As soon as the match ended, the Argentinian coach went to the bedside of his players, injured in their pride, while the triumph in the previous round against Bayern Munich, defending champion, had nourished their dreams of coronation.

The two goals conceded?

"Accidents," said the technician, who has seen the "best" first period of PSG since his arrival in January.

- The "duty to believe" -

The brazen optimism of "Poche" was reinforced by the success against Lens (2-1), Saturday in Ligue 1. Neymar extended his speech on the field, with a goal and an assist which reflect his desire to revenge.

"We have to believe it, no matter what the statistics say or our percentage of chance of winning," the Brazilian told PSG TV.

Only 7%: this is the probability of seeing a team qualify after losing at home the first set 2-1, according to statistician Opta, and that leaves only a meager sign of life for the Parisians.

But since the final lost against Bayern (1-0) last August, Paris has clung to its dreams of coronation, despite complicated situations.

The victory at Old Trafford against Manchester United (3-1) while PSG risked elimination in the event of a setback, the feat at Camp Nou against FC Barcelona (4-1, 8th first leg) without Neymar or Angel Di Maria , or the one at the Allianz Arena in Munich's ultra dominating (3-2, quarter first) have woven the legend of a team that bends but never breaks in the European Cup.

- City's "special" season -

"It will take 11 warriors on the field, said midfielder Marco Verratti. There will be times when we will suffer, others when it will be better. Every minute, every detail will count."

The uncertainties around Mbappé, put aside against Lens, undermine the myth of the Parisian reed, which will need to score at least two goals.

"We will also have to be clinical and aggressive when we have a chance," Pochettino insisted.

In addition to offensive realism, possession, which City greatly appreciates, will be another key for Parisians who failed physically in the second half in the first leg.

An elimination could turn the balance sheet of PSG upside down, which already no longer has its destiny in hand in Ligue 1, where Lille is ahead of it three days from the end.

Opposite, Manchester City shares the feeling of living a unique season.

"Everyone knows that we are going through something special," admitted coach Pep Guardiola.

Winners of the League Cup, the "Sky Blues", winners of 32 of their last 35 matches, could have been champions of England on Sunday, without the postponement of the meeting between Manchester United and Liverpool.

The "Citizens" did the job on their side, winning against Crystal Palace (2-0), without De Bruyne or Mahrez, left to rest.

Now in their sights, the first C1 final in the history of the club, owned since 2008 by the United Arab Emirates.

"Maybe tomorrow (Tuesday) we will play a bad game and be eliminated. But maybe we will be very good, and that's more my feeling ..." Guardiola said.

© 2021 AFP