Having proven worrying shortcomings in all departments this 12 months, Paris St Germain desperately have to get their act collectively in the event that they need to stand an opportunity towards Bayern Munich of their Champions League final 16 conflict subsequent week.
The Ligue 1 leaders have misplaced three video games in 2023, the most recent on Wednesday in a 2-1 defeat at bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille within the French Cup final 16 once they have been overwhelmed by the Provence facet’s aggressiveness all through.
With Kylian Mbappe out injured for an additional two weeks, which means he will not play towards Bayern on the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, PSG are with no match winner whereas Neymar was vastly disappointing towards Marseille.
Solely Lionel Messi up entrance has been as much as his requirements just lately and that won’t be sufficient towards the Bundesliga giants.
“After they get ran into, no one actually responds. It is at all times the identical factor: if they’ll play at their tempo, there is no drawback,” former OM and PSG participant Edouard Cisse instructed French sports activities every day L’Equipe on Thursday.
“As quickly because the opposing staff placed on the depth, they’re misplaced.”
In midfield, PSG have been vastly dominated as solely Marco Verratti has the capability to face his floor, and Vitinha, who has been fielded as a playmaker behind Messi and Neymar as Christophe Galtier reshuffled his staff within the absence of Mbappe, has but to indicate he can put his forwards in the most effective positions.
Bayern, as a substitute, have been rediscovering their kind, scoring eight objectives of their final two Bundesliga matches – not a superb omen for PSG, whose defence has typically been at a loss.
Sergio Ramos might need scored the equaliser on Wednesday however his aggression doesn’t make up for his lack of tempo and poor sense of anticipation and the Spaniard typically leaves Marquinhos on his personal.
The Brazilian, as soon as once more, urged his staff mates to stand up on Wednesday.
“We have to shut our mouths and work,” he stated.
PSG’s greatest plan of action may be to dig deep and discover some pleasure forward of a Ligue 1 recreation towards Monaco on Saturday and Tuesday’s match towards Bayern.
“We’re dissatisfied and we’re offended,” stated keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
If expertise has been missing at PSG recently, anger would possibly take them someplace.