FAVORITES
“I have never seen a rival who did so little in attack and ended up with three goals scored.” Luis Enrique only had a moderate taste of the Le Havre match on Saturday at the Parc des Princes. Which Le Havre left with a draw (3-3), while a victory would have sealed the title for Paris. And it is true that the HAC has been more efficient than prolific. However, Luka Elsner’s players did not steal their result, not at all. And their first goal is magnificent, a collective recital. It starts with a touch at the halfway line, right side, with the inspiration of Loïc Nego to let pass in the direction of Andre Ayew, delicious backheel for Josue Casimir who puts it back with a touch for Nego, who finds Emmanuel Sabbi . The latter opens perfectly on Christopher Opéri who adjusts Keylor Navas. Treat! Besides, Ayew’s goal is no less tasty. The former Marseillais resisted Danilo Peirera to strike hard from the left at the near post after a backheel, again, from Nego this time. Joga bonito.
Also read PSG-Le Havre notes: the ghost of Kolo Muani, Hakimi restarts everything, masterful Nego
“It is surprising”. Even Luis Enrique is surprised by the success of Gonçalo Ramos, in very good form at the end of the season. It wasn’t seen in Lorient (4-1 victory), but the Portuguese is ultimately never as strong as when he comes off the bench, like on Saturday. A goal – a beautifully placed header – and an assist for Achraf Hakimi to his credit. If Paris Saint-Germain finally snatched a draw (3-3) after being down 1-3, it is largely thanks to him. A PSG which can now turn to Dortmund. It will be Wednesday, at Signal Iduna Park. A priori, Ramos will not start in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League. But Luis Enrique knows that he can count on the former Benfica player if the course of the match requires it. 36 matches, 14 goals for Gonçalo Ramos. Top.
Coming to celebrate the title of champion of France, the Parisian supporters could have been annoyed by the level of performance of their favorite players during a good part of the meeting on Saturday, the poorly ranked Le Havre having led 3-1. However, they never lowered their tone. Never. On the contrary. They pushed even more when Paris was leading. “I would like to emphasize that our supporters are incredible,” relishes Luis Enrique. We were down 0-1, then 1-2 and 1-3, but they never stopped encouraging us. Faced with this, it is impossible for the players not to fight until the last moment. In the end, we scored three goals, we won the de facto title and we have to thank the supporters. Thank you for their positive attitude. We even had the opportunity to win at the end, which would have been incredible,” adds the 53-year-old Spanish technician, more eager than ever to “give joy to the fans with the two matches to come,” that is to say the two meetings against Dortmund, in the C1 semi-finals, on May 1 and 7. Chick?
SEE ALSO – “We will be in the final of the Champions League”, proclaims Luis Enrique before PSG’s semi-final against Dortmund
CLAW STRIKES
Let’s be clear: it’s human to have a Champions League semi-final in mind when you’re playing Le Havre and you’re almost guaranteed to win the French champion title. In addition, Luis Enrique had clearly made the management of playing time a priority. The former Barça coach, for example, made his five changes before the hour mark! Nevertheless, we are entitled to note that the Parisians played like a clap in the first period. Too bad for the public, who would have liked to celebrate the title. It will perhaps be for Sunday, if Monaco does not win in Lyon. “We won the title,” assures Luis Enrique, rightly emphasizing that mass is said knowing that Paris has an insurmountable lead in terms of goal difference. Still, it was better in the second half, and even more so at the end of the match, after the Normandy penalty. A little late no doubt. Once again, no one will really blame the Parisians, who can be proud of having been able to equalize at the end.
Is it serious doctor ? Brilliant in the colors of Frankfurt last season (23 goals and 17 assists) and often valuable in the France team, Randal Kolo Muani has been lost since the start of the season and his €95 million transfer to PSG. He has not lost his qualities. Just his confidence. Starting Saturday, the former Nantes player only touched 17 balls in 62 minutes. No shot, no pass leading to a shot from one of his teammates. Nothingness. A feeling of disconnection with the rest of the team. He felt lost. We imagined a duel between “RKM” and Ramos for the center forward position at the start of the season. Neither of them won the battle, Luis Enrique preferring to rely on the Mbappé/Dembélé/Barcola trio for the most important matches in C1. But if the Spanish coach needs to bring in an attacker for a decisive match, it will certainly not be Kolo Muani. To see if the person concerned will regain his splendor in Blue this summer, at Euro 2024, and next season in Paris, with the cards which will inevitably be reshuffled due to the announced departure of Kylian Mbappé towards Real Madrid.