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Undefeated in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, Paris has seen its pace slow since the draw in the first leg against Benfica, which it faces again on Tuesday. Between a less flamboyant game and a dissatisfied Mbappé in his pivotal role, PSG would like to dispel his doubts before they even settle.
When it comes to chronicling the footballing exploits of PSG, the French press often stirs up two specters: that of the “remontada”, from the nickname of the infamous defeat in 2016 against FC Barcelona, and that of the “November crisis “, this slump that would affect the club of the French capital every eleventh month of the year.
This year, the traditional crisis could have a little head start in the event of a disappointment on Tuesday, October 11 against Benfica in the Champions League.
Of course, Paris is not (yet) in danger. Undefeated this season, the club masters its destiny in Group H. It can even qualify on Tuesday in the event of a victory and if Juventus do not win in Haifa, while in Ligue 1, the reigning French champion is still leader with eight wins and two draws in ten days. However, some symptoms are already worrying.
The penalty attack
Figures revealing the Parisian decline, the attack which averaged 4 goals per match over the first seven games, from the Champions Trophy against Nantes (4-0) to the match on September 3 against the same opponent (3-0) , fell to 1.4 goals per game over the next seven. Moreover, a few days before this match against Benfica, Paris conceded a goalless draw in Reims (0-0), its first match without scoring a goal this season.
Three days before, it was Benfica who flew in the feathers of the Parisians in a very intense meeting (1-1). Tied on points with Paris, the Portuguese “Eagles” could also benefit from a performance to ensure their qualification.
A drop in form in defense
In central defense, Marquinhos has not become the intractable captain who dominated his opponents and still seems to be chasing after his best level since his unfortunate match against Real Madrid in the Champions League, which still dates back more than seven months.
On the side of the pistons aligned by Galtier, Achraf Hakimi is also going through a less good period, on the right, and was also very nervous in Reims.
Fortunately, Gianluigi Donnarumma is in top form, with plenty of decisive saves. But that the goalkeeper is currently the best player in the club shows that the crisis is brewing at PSG.
“#PivotGang” or Mbappé’s frustration
It must be added to this that Kylian Mbappé seems to be experiencing a slump after carrying PSG on his back last season. Facing Reims, the Bondy prodigy was nervous, with a very strong tackle at the very end of the match, a sign of frustration which earned him a yellow but which could have cost more. ‘Kyky’ has scored just one goal in his last four matches for Paris and missed the head-to-head matches he usually excels at.
Is the French superstar frustrated? This is the message that he has been trying to convey for several days through the media and which inevitably causes confusion, given the weight gained by the player within the club of the capital, of which he appears to be a new door. -flag.
After the victory of the French team against Austria (2-0) on September 22 in the League of Nations, Mbappé had put his feet in the dish by evoking his agreement with the Blues with Olivier Giroud: “I a lot more freedom here, the coach knows that there is a number 9 like ‘Olive’ who occupies the defenses, I can walk around, go into spaces, ask for the balls. In Paris, it’s different, he there is not that, I am asked to make the pivot,” said the French striker (23), author of the opener.
Mbappé added a layer of it on Saturday following the pitiful draw brought back from Reims by PSG in the league (0-0), splitting a post on Instagram: “Draw, meeting Tuesday”, followed in particular by the word- “#PivotGang” key. A muted attack but all the same frontal against the choices of coach Christophe Galtier. According to L’Equipe, however, PSG would not consider sanctions or reprimands against the player.
“He is surely much more padlocked in front of us, given the profiles we have available”, for his part recognized Christophe Galtier on September 29, specifying however in the process: “I do not think he has less freedom “, just to quickly put out the fire.
With the reception of Benfica then the “classic” French Sunday against OM, Kylian Mbappé should have the opportunity to regain his efficiency and the glory of the spotlight, especially since his teammate, the legend Lionel Messi, is given absent at least for the C1 match. But in the event of a double underperformance, the spark of Mbappé’s frustration could well ignite the brazier of discord that heats Paris every November.