PSG suffered a tough defeat this Wednesday at St James' Park against Newcastle on the second day of the group stage of the Champions League (4-1). The French media, especially Le Parisien, analyzed the European setback of Luis Enrique's team and considers the Asturian coach "the main person responsible" for the poor result against Eddie Howe's team: "PSG did nothing, they achieved nothing and suffered throughout the game," they said from the French capital.
The Parisian team had not conceded four goals in a league in the top European competition since March 7, 2001, when Deportivo de la Coruña came back from 0-3 down that year at Riazor during a group stage match. Luis Enrique opted for a system based on four forwards and two midfielders: an approach that caused him “enormous difficulties” according to L'Équipe and that sent his team to the locker room with a 2-0 deficit. Only a solitary goal from Lucas Hernández in the 56th minute made up for the bulky final result. "It was the coach's decision because we wanted to put pressure on his defense," the French full-back justified his coach's approach at the end of the game.
In this regard, Lucho took responsibility as coach in the press conference after the match and commented the following about the proposal chosen against the magpies: “I am the coach, I decide. I thought this system was best for the team and, in fact, I still do. We did not deserve this result." “Our goal is to reach the round of 16. It is a difficult group and we know it, but we are still second," added the Spanish coach about the situation of the French team in the Champions League; currently second, with three points , one behind Newcastle, the first place.
As far as the national competition is concerned, PSG is having the worst league start since the Qataris landed the Paris club in 2011: 12 points in seven games. The team now occupies fifth position and is two points away from the lead shared between Monaco and Best: both with 14 points. In general terms and taking into account all competitions, Luis Enrique's team only has four wins in nine games.
Kylian Mbappé was also questioned about his performance yesterday at St James' Park: L'Équipe rated it a two out of 10 and considered the French forward's first half to be “very disappointing”. “Maybe because the balls weren't coming to him he went to look for them too far back. "Too insufficient for him," they stated. The 24-year-old top star of the Parisian team has not scored since September 19. Precisely, since the first day of the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund in which he scored a goal from eleven meters. In Newcastle He didn't even try a single dribble.
