Paris Saint-Germain can no longer do it. After elimination in the knockout stages of the Champions League against Bayern Munich, Christophe Galtier’s men suffered their first home defeat in two years. PSG lost this weekend against Rennes during the 28th day of Ligue 1.
The new defeat against Rennes (2-0) leaves Paris Saint-Germain in a worrying state of lethargy, coach Christophe Galtier seems lost, Lionel Messi is in the dark and the leaders are silent. However, there is still a championship title to go for. The situation of the club thus worries Michel Moulin present in the program Europe 1 Sports (every evening from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.): “They are not at the level”, estimates the former unsuccessful candidate for the presidency of the FFF.
After a thunderous start, Christophe Galtier saw his team’s game gradually disintegrate until a pitiful elimination against Bayern Munich (1-0/2-0) in the knockout stages of the Champions League which weakened him and considerably darkens its future. He changed tactics, returning to the three-man defense he favored from the start, until keeping this formula against Rennes even with four centrals on the flank.
Galtier loses his hand, Messi elsewhere
The coach is not looking for “no excuses” but recalls that there are “explanations”, like the eight injured missing Sunday against Rennes, including four pillars, Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos, Presnel Kimpembe and Neymar. But Galtier, so at ease in communication, even in difficult times, seems to be losing his touch here too. His way of pointing out the mistakes of very young players and protecting disappointing top names 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 the 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 make eyes at him.
Mbappé still at the heart of the project
The reformatting of the workforce would this time 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 record-hungry star cannot remain insensitive to this slump, she who pitifully admitted after the elimination at Bayern: “That’s our maximum”. “We are looking for Mbappé in depth, but the rest does not run”, noted Michel Moulin in Europe 1 Sports.
The idol of the Parc des Princes has one year left on his contract, but management will have to convince Mbappé that he has a chance of winning the Champions League in Paris if they don’t want him to want to play again. ‘elsewhere. If he does not extend, he will be free in June 2024…
A silent direction
The image of Luis Campos, cheek crushed on one hand, and Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, prostrate in the stands, has toured social networks. As after the elimination in Munich, neither the football adviser nor the president of PSG, hoped for by the media, came to give Sunday evening the point of view of the management on this deliquescent sporting situation.
It was once again Galtier who defused the nascent controversy over Messi who left a training session angry last week. The technician fiercely denied. Campos did not come to defend his failed recruitment, which leaves the defense of a club aiming for Champions League victory without an alternative. 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 round of 16 in the Champions League as in the Coupe de France, PSG only has 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 matches 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 soft festivities in the event of the 11th coronation, a bit like last year for the tenth, a Saint-Étienne record yet equaled.
Source: Europe1
Brayden White, a veteran sports writer at Global Happening, brings his wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sports section. With over a decade of experience, he is committed to delivering high-quality coverage of the latest games and events.
