"Paris Saint-Germain is a washing machine that wears out" the players gets carried away Thierry Bretagne

Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin, with AFP 20:37 p.m., March 20, 2023

The new defeat against Rennes (2-0) leaves Paris Saint-Germain in a state of worrying lethargy, coach Christophe Galtier seems lost, Lionel Messi is in the dark and the leaders are silent. Yet there is still a championship title to go for. The situation of the club worries Michel Moulin present in the program Europe 1 Sport (every evening from 20 hours to 23 hours): "They are not at the level," says the former unfortunate candidate for the presidency of the FFF.

After a thunderous start, Christophe Galtier saw the game of his team gradually unravel until a pitiful elimination against Bayern Munich (1-0/2-0) in the knockout stages of the Champions League which weakened him and considerably darkened his future. He changed tactically, returning to the three-man defence he favoured from the start, until keeping this formula against Rennes even with four centre-backs on the flank.

>> READ ALSO – Ligue 1: without desire, PSG loses against Rennes (2-0) at the Parc des Princes, a first since 2018

Galtier loses hand, Messi elsewhere

The coach is looking for "no excuses" but recalls that there are "explanations", such as the eight injured missing Sunday against Rennes, including four pillars, Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos, Presnel Kimpembe and Neymar. But Galtier, so comfortable in communication, even in difficult times, seems to lose his hand here too. His way of pointing out the mistakes of very young players and protecting disappointing cadors like Marco Verratti goes badly internally. What to wonder more and more about his future in Paris at the end of the season.

The gap is inexorably widening between the Argentine star and part of the public. A few whistles accompanied his very average performance against Rennes and the "Pulga" returned alone to the locker room while his teammates greeted a Parc des Princes still not angry and still behind his team.

At almost 36 years old and at the end of his contract in June, the world champion is still in negotiations with PSG to extend his lease but no agreement has yet been reached while Saudi Arabia, David Beckham's Inter Miami and even FC Barcelona are making him soft eyes.

>> READ ALSO – "We can not incriminate my players," protests Christophe Galtier after the defeat of PSG against Rennes

Mbappé still at the heart of the project

The reformatting of the squad this time would be entirely centered around Kylian Mbappé, promoted to captain in the absence of Marquinhos and Kimpembe and who is currently sending rather positive signs in terms of involvement and leadership. But until when? The star eager for records can not remain insensitive to this slump, she who admitted pitifully after the elimination at Bayern: "Our maximum is that". "We are looking for Mbappé in depth, but the rest does not run," said Michel Moulin in Europe 1 Sport.

There is one year left on his contract at the Parc des Princes idol, but the management will have to convince Mbappé that he has a chance of winning the Champions League in Paris if they do not want him to want to go elsewhere. If he does not extend, he will be free in June 2024...

A mute management

The image of Luis Campos, his cheek crushed on one hand, and Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, prostrate in the stands, made the rounds of social networks. As after the elimination in Munich, neither the football advisor nor the president of PSG, hoped for by the media, came Sunday night to give the point of view of the management on this deliquescent sporting situation.

It was once again Galtier who defused the emerging controversy over Messi reportedly leaving a training session angry last week. The technician fiercely denied it. Campos did not come to defend his failed recruitment, which leaves the defence of a club aiming for victory in the Champions League without a substitute. For Thierry Bretagne, this management of players at PSG is "catastrophic". "Paris Saint-Germain is a washing machine that wears out" the players, he lamented.

Can PSG lose the title?

Eliminated in the knockout stages of the Champions League as in the Coupe de France, PSG has only the title of champion of France to win. Even if the crisis is there, the team has a priori a sufficiently large margin, seven points ahead of OM (2nd). But there are ten games left, and the next three against teams at least as formidable as Rennes: Lyon in a fortnight, and then Nice and Lens. Be careful not to lose everything...

This gloomy end of the season in any case augurs sluggish festivities in case of 11th coronation, a bit like last year for the tenth, record of Saint-Étienne yet equaled.