The complicated life of PSG without Kylian Mbappé

“The important thing is the three points.” Difficult to remember anything else from this little Paris Saint-Germain, winner of Toulouse (2-1) at the Parc des Princes at the start of this 22nd day. First undermined by the injury exit of Renato Sanches (11th), then led to the score by a free kick from Van den Boomen (20th), the leader of the French championship found the resources to equalize by Hakimi (38th) and take the advantage by Messi (58th) on two beautiful curled shots from the left.

We will not remember much else from this meeting where the club of the capital came very close to the evening disaster since the post first saved the Toulouse on this header from Marquinhos (34th). In the process, Téf thought of making the break but Aboukhlal was well offside on this victorious header (35th). Before OM in the Coupe de France (this Wednesday), Monaco (February 11) in the league and especially Bayern Munich in the Champions League (February 14), a new disappointment would have weighed down the morale of the troops a little more, already not at the nice fix at the moment.

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A still flagrant lack of intensity

Without Mbappé, injured for three weeks and absent for this first round of C1, and Neymar, the 4-4-2 diamond of Christophe Galtier purred for a long time. Soler and Ruiz on the sides of the diamond lacked mobility. Vitinha, placed behind the attacking duo, often slid back to ask for the ball, leaving Messi and Ekitike to often fend for themselves. The two attackers also had difficulty combining together, in particular because of the inaccuracies of the former Rémois.

A lack of intensity, once again noticed by Marquinhos in the first place, who spoke at Prime Video after the meeting. “There are things to take away from a game like this. There was a good state of mind, that’s what we remember. I think we’re finally starting to fall into line, there are automatisms, we’re getting back in shape, after that there are always injuries, it’s a shame. You have to know how to win in difficulty, especially at home.

Still, without its injuries, this PSG must adapt. “We are not worried, but we wanted to have all our players available. We will have to do without, be strong and give the maximum for those who will be on the ground. continued the Brazilian, imitated a few moments later by Achraf Hakimi, one of the heroes of the evening. “It’s on, we play with Kylian who helps the team a lot. It is sure that it is difficult but we will find the solution with good coaching, continue with a good mentality, good results, even without Kylian.