The moment of truth. By inheriting the “group of death”, with Dortmund, Newcastle and Milan, the Parisians knew from the start that they would not have an easy task in C1. They perhaps did not think their backs were against the wall before the last day and their trip to Signal Iduna Park, this Wednesday (9 p.m., on Canal and RMC Sport 1), facing BVB 09 and its famous Yellow Wall, the largest stand of Europe. Second in Group F behind their German hosts, they only have one certainty, that of playing in a European Cup in the spring. It remains to be seen whether Paris will be involved in the 8th round of the Champions League, as always since the 2011-12 season, or in the Europa League play-offs. “Be positive,” says Luis Enrique to those who are already imagining the worst, and in this case in response to a question about his future in the event of C3. In terms of images or finances, it’s not the same story.
Despite their defeats at Newcastle (4-1) and Milan (2-1), Kylian Mbappé and company, who were a hit at the Parc des Princes (2-0 against Dortmund and 3-0 against Milan), nevertheless had the opportunity to kill the suspense and secure their place in the 8th of C1 two weeks ago. It would still have been necessary to win against Newcastle. Alas, the Magpies took a point at the Parc (1-1). And again, it could have been worse without this penalty generously awarded by Mr. Marciniak at the end of added time… A match in which Paris had the opportunities to score well before. 31 shots! As much relief as regret when doing the accounts. “At the end of a match like that, you go into the dressing room and you say to yourself: ‘how is it possible that it ended at 1-1’… It was a crazy match, the ball didn’t didn’t want to go back, squeaked Lucas Hernandez. There are evenings like that… It’s part of football!”
Also readMarquinhos before Dortmund-PSG: “Winning the Champions League in Paris? It would be the happiest day of my life.”
Maybe it’s part of football, but it’s annoying all the same. And this even if the PSG institution has the backs strong enough to support a relegation to C3 on a financial level, between a reduced payroll during the summer, a turnover constantly increasing (800 M€ in 2022-23 ) and the arrival of a new minority shareholder, the American fund Arctos. A Paris-SG has entered a “new era” since the start of the season, as Nasser Al-Khelaïfi repeats over and over again, whose taste for shock formulas in the off-season is well known. The Qatari president has a certain gift for this…
This time, however, the Parisian management has combined action with words. Largely renewed squad, more young people and French people, fewer superstars, new coach and new idea of the game, new training center, new culture, new economic model… A cat wouldn’t find its little ones there. Obviously, an exit in the Champions League would certainly represent a failure for Paris-SG, even if the level of adversity will require tempering the analyzes if necessary and the Rouge et Bleu would have more chances of winning a continental coronation in C3. Remember that Paris has only won the Coupe des Coupes in 1996.
Moreover, President Al-Khelaïfi said at the start of the season that “the Champions League is not an obsession” or that “immediate results are no longer the priority”. Promised sworn ? It nevertheless remains the absolute dream for Marquinhos: “It would be magnificent… It’s the only trophy that I’m missing here, it’s a dream that many have had here, and I still have it, but the road is long, it you have to take it game by game and already think about Dortmund. But if one day I win this trophy in Paris, it will be one of the happiest days of my life…”
One thing is certain: Paris Saint-Germain launched a new dynamic last summer, these are not just words. Relegation to the Europa League wouldn’t be good news, that’s clear, but it wouldn’t mean the end of the world either. Except for Luis Campos? According to L’Équipe, Luis Enrique would not be threatened if this were to happen.
This does not mean that the Parisians will not do everything to win in Dortmund, already qualified for the 8th. “It’s a big match, a challenge to take on, a final that awaits us,” insists Randal Kolo Muani. We’re not going to lie, it’s our lives that are at stake!” Obviously, the former Frankfurt player was not affected by the presidential speech. Like all his teammates, he can’t imagine anything other than reaching the Champions League. “I always try to be positive,” insists Luis Enrique. And the positive is that our destiny is in our hands in a very difficult group. If you focus on the negative aspects, you will have problems… We are capable of winning this match. Now we have to do it.” Marquinhos also preached the good word and displayed his positivism. “We know that by winning in Dortmund, we would be qualified and first in the group. It will be a match for high-level players, like we have here,” underlines Lucas Hernandez.
There are also some in the ranks of Borussia which has been blowing hot and cold since the start of the season. Beaten 2-0 at the Parc in the first leg, the Edin Terzic players remain in three matches without a victory (draw at Leverkusen, defeats at Stuttgart and against Leipzig) and are only fifth in the Bundesliga. However, they have won their last three matches in C1, including victories at Newcastle (0-1) and Milan (1-3). The roller coaster for former teammates Achraf Hakimi (2018-20) and Ousmane Dembélé (2016-17). The latter, however, will not be present this Wednesday. Stupidly warned against the Toons, “Dembouz” is suspended. A real blow for PSG, as dependent on Mbappé’s goals as on the differences of his comrade. “Responsibilities are always shared, football is a team sport,” recalls Luis Enrique. The Rouge et Bleu will have to put up with it.
