PARIS (Reuters) – Mauricio Pochettino has been insisting that Paris St Germain have but to develop into a group and Tuesday’s 3-2 Champions League victory towards RB Leipzig served as a reminder that the Ligue 1 facet have but to search out their collective stride.
PSG had been overwhelmed within the midfield, their full backs typically caught off guard by a visiting group who performed with excessive strain all through and the French membership solely had Kylian Mbappe’s brilliance and Lionel Messi’s scientific end to be joyful about.
“There are issues we are able to enhance as a result of we have to management the match for 90 minutes and for 20-25 minutes, we misplaced that management,” mentioned midfielder Ander Herrera.
PSG went forward early on as Mbappe fired residence on the finish of a pointy counterattack however fell behind after targets on the far publish by Andre Silva and Nordi Mukiele.
France striker Mbappe then took the matter into his personal arms to overturn the deficit, offering Messi with the help for the equaliser earlier than profitable the penalty that the Argentine coolly transformed.
Till then, Messi had been a pale shadow of his good self, caught close to the touchline with too little velocity to make a distinction.
It’s only when he repositioned within the coronary heart of the sport, nearer to Mbappe, that the previous Barcelona ahead may lastly assist.
Finally, PSG had been left being glad with the group’s character.
“After we went 2-1 down, we confirmed character as we now have achieved all season. We all know there are issues to enhance, and we are going to enhance with time. However I feel we have to reward the gamers, as a result of they did very nicely,” mentioned Pochettino.
“Crucial factor is that we received. We suffered. You need to endure, nothing is given to you in soccer. We might mentioned to ourselves earlier than the sport that it wouldn’t be simple,” mentioned captain Marquinhos.
PSG, who will play away to Leipzig and Manchester Metropolis within the return section, high Group A with seven factors, one forward of Pep Guardiola’s group.
They face one other check of their character on Sunday after they journey to bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille in Ligue 1.
Third-placed OM are 10 factors behind leaders PSG with one sport in hand.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Enhancing by Christian Radnedge)
