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It's not the Kylian Saint-Germain," Mbappé said a handful of weeks ago. A warning shot, not sanctioned this one by the club, which aimed to criticize the campaign of resubscription of which he was the only figure. One of the many jolts in the tormented season of PSG, not the only one, from sand yachting in September to hurricane Leo Messi in recent days, through the "penalty-gate", the "Galtier affair", Neymar at McDonald's and many other episodes granguignolesque. Except that this time, it's not just a formula: on the move to Troyes this Sunday (20:45), during the 34th matchday of Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain, plucked, will have only one of its three stars, Kylian Mbappé. "Ney" is out for the rest of the season and Messi, suspended - a priori for two weeks - by the club following his Saudi mop.
To discover
- Ligue 1 schedule and results
- Ligue 1 standings
Certainly, there will be 10 other players on the field of the Stade de l'Aube. Not Nuno Mendes, Nordi Mukiele or Presnel Kimpembe, whose season is already over, nor Timothée Pembélé, still unavailable. Excluded during the debacle against Lorient (1-3) last weekend, Achraf Hakimi is suspended. Not impossible to see a titi in the eleven. One thinks for example of Warren Zaire-Emery. Regarding Leo Messi, God knows if we will see him again under the red and blue tunic. "I'm waiting to know what the club will do," said the "Pulga", Galtier refraining from pronouncing. "There will be discussions with the club and Leo, the first concerned," he said.
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One thing is certain: the Parisian coach would have done well without this new blow, which shakes an already shaken dressing room and weakens a squad that did not need it. "Galette" can still count on Marco Verratti, Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos or Gigio Donnrumma for this meeting against the 18th in the L1 ranking, already almost guaranteed to go down. If we only talk about the offensive sector, on the other hand, it is less glowing. To accompany "KM", Galtier does not have much choice: Hugo Ekitike should find a place of holder. However, it is not because of its level of performance at the moment, no. Simply because there is no other alternative, except to raise the Soler eclipse a notch or to draw from the pool of titis, for example Ilyes Housni. Above all, it is Messi's creativity that will be missing. The 35-year-old world champion "weighs" 19 assists this season and represents the first provider of balls to Mbappe, whose PSG (very) weakened by injuries and (very) affected mentally will wait for mountains and wonders this Sunday, more than ever.
Game 50 in 2022-23
Which Mbappé has also suffered a little in this second half of the season cahin-caha, he is not superhuman. It must be said that the crack of Bondy will play this Sunday its 50th game in 2022-23, including the team of France. That hasn't stopped him from finding the net four times in the last three games, with an assist as a bonus. Enough to allow him to sit at the top of the L1 scoring table with 23 goals, ahead of Jonathan David (21 goals), Alexandre Lacazette (20) and Lois Openda (19), and get closer to a fifth top scorer title.
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A personal motivation, perhaps not the only one for Mbappe, pinned by Neymar in recent days. After having the unpleasant surprise of seeing a few dozen angry Parisian fans land in front of his home in Bougival, the Brazilian saw fit to like a video in which a Brazilian "commentator" dezings the crack of Bondy. "He thinks he's god now. So PSG fans continue to worship him and want Messi and Neymar to leave so that he is happier, "says one for example in this famous video. The kind of thing that must have had the gift of annoying the captain of the France team. Especially since this is not the first time that "Ney" uses this kind of means to get his messages across... It is up to Mbappé to assume his role as leader and miracle worker to awaken this amorphous Paris-SG against Lorient and which has made the state of crisis its daily life.
We must not look for solutions, we must find them.
Christophe Galtier
A mission to its excess, but it will not be easy, even if Troyes has not won since... January 2 (4 draws, 13 losses) and that PSG is traveling relatively well at the moment (four consecutive victories in L1 away from the Parc des Princes). "It's part of a season to experience moments when the squad is reduced. We only have one game a week and we don't have to look for solutions, we have to find them. We have worked in this direction, in order to compensate for the absences of each other and try to maintain a certain dynamic outside. We are surely better on the road than at home at the moment, "says Christophe Galtier, not wanting to believe that we are more comfortable away than at home. Does the opponent give more by being at home, give more space? Maybe... What is certain is that we are now in the sprint, in the fight, and that we must do everything possible to win.
»Kylian Mbappe has scored four goals in his last three matches. FRANCK FIFE / AFP
Lens with three small dots
Indeed, it would be better: Mbappé and company are only three points ahead of Lens, winner of OM on Saturday (2-1). "We will make sure to have a team with a lot of dynamism, energy, to continue to win away," said Galtier, who has not forgotten that "his" Paris Saint-Germain did not necessarily shine on the occasion of the successes brought back from Brest (1-2), Nice (0-2) and Angers (1-2), it is an understatement. He did not hesitate to regret that "too many players are below their level" at the moment in Paris, Luis Campos "demanding" a reaction.
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Our last trip was to Angers, which was almost doomed, but I saw a very playful, dynamic team, who wanted to beat the defending champions and PSG. I would say the same thing here: Troyes still mathematically hopes to get out of it even if it is difficult and will receive PSG, the champion. The players will play without pressure, in a stadium with people. They will play their football. They will not want to create the feat but beat PSG. It's up to us to be much more efficient than in our last game, to have a very great determination to want to win, "said Galtier. Determination that has not always been obvious lately...
The good result is victory, nothing else.
Christophe Galtier
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The good result is victory, nothing else. We will have a very open game," he added. This would be good news for Mbappe, who is no doubt making good use of it. To see if the 2018 world champion will not be too alone. Especially since without a depth player in front, deprived of the speed of Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi on the sides or the ability of Neymar and Leo Messi to mobilize defenders, Estac will probably not let go of a sole ...