Paris (AFP)
Showered in the semi-final of the Champions League on Tuesday by Manchester City (2-1, 2-0), PSG has abandoned this season its dream of European coronation.
But before thinking about improvements for 2021-2022, Paris must re-mobilize, otherwise it will experience further disappointments.
- A balance sheet to put into perspective -
Since the arrival of its current Qatari owner in 2011, PSG has already "taken a round trip" in the final phase of C1, as titled Liberation.
For the third time in ten years, the Parisians have lost both sets of their confrontation, after FC Barcelona in 2015 (quarters) and Real Madrid in 2018 (eighth).
But falling against City with this result does not necessarily credit the thesis of a step backwards.
Defeated in the final last August against Bayern (1-0), PSG has managed an XXL course this season by eliminating Barça and then the Bavarian title holder.
"The Champions League is his home, and he lives upstairs," writes the sports daily L'Equipe on Wednesday.
Behind the scenes, the Parisian club's position was strengthened after the episode of the ephemeral Super League, which saw its president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi oppose the most powerful clubs in Europe, including City, on a project of dissident competition quickly aborted.
The abandonment of this initiative, criticized by supporters, players and authorities, constituted a victory of influence which consolidated the place of Paris within the elite.
- A workforce to rebuild -
But what do Parisians lack to win this title behind which they have been running for a decade?
Nervousness, defensive errors, absence of Kylian Mbappé on the return ... "It pays off in the details", analyzed captain Marquinhos.
But in the press, it is the complete physiognomy of the Parisian patient that is X-rayed. Diagnosis: the workforce lacks quality and identity of the game.
The observation was striking between the Manchester collective, built brick by brick by Pep Guardiola since 2016, and that of PSG, which is based on its superstars Neymar and Mbappé.
"Paris knows what remains for it to accomplish: better full-backs, a stronger midfield, more success," said Le Parisien newspaper.
"The Parisian management will perhaps understand that a workforce is built first by thinking of the foundations before considering the decoration", adds L'Equipe.
Pellets, defender Alessandro Florenzi, striker Mauro Icardi and midfielder Leandro Paredes share the donkey cap, according to the notes given by journalists.
The question of the future evokes that of the extension of Neymar and Mbappé, whose contracts expire in 2022. The two stars have still not signed, despite the encouraging signals sent for several weeks.
But the defeat against City is a reminder that limiting the transfer window to these two would be a mistake: this summer, sporting director Leonardo will have to find reinforcement on all lines, in a financial context complicated by the pandemic.
- Titles to recover -
In the meantime, there are two and a half weeks of competition left, which will prove to be crucial.
PSG must win the Championship and the Coupe de France, two titles of which it is the holder, to save the results of its season.
But in L1, he is no longer master of his destiny, Lille being in the lead with a point ahead of three days from the end.
In the Cup, the course (Montpellier in the half, perhaps Monaco in the event of the final) is not in a straight line either.
Remobilization, "this is the first thing we talked about in the locker room. You have to keep concentration, it's difficult, but we leave here with the awareness of having a large group," said Leonardo.
"We have to fight for two titles. All matches are finals for us," said midfielder Ander Herrera.
The next "final" is scheduled for Sunday in Rennes, which claims a European place.
Without Mbappé, suspended, PSG must react and hope that its momentum has not broken under the downpours of Manchester.
© 2021 AFP