The 0:3 in Monaco, including an unmotivated performance, was PSG’s fourth away defeat in a row. After the game, captain Marquinhos also found clear words (“worst game of the season”) and coach Pochettino spoke of a “disgrace”.
Even before the second-leg defeat at Real Madrid (9 March), it had become apparent that the Parisians were currently performing extremely poorly in other stadiums: On 19 February, they conceded three first-half goals at Nantes, currently mid-table in Ligue 1, and lost 3-1, including a missed Neymar penalty.That trend continued at Nice (0-1), one of the teams now lurking for more PSG slip-ups in Ligue 1 – to perhaps lurk in a potential final push for the French title after all.
For Paris also lost 0:3 in Monaco at the weekend. It was away defeat number 4 in a row. It was also probably PSG’s weakest and most unmotivated performance so far this season. Even captain Marquinhos told L’Equipe afterwards: “If we keep performing like this, it’s clear that the title is in danger.” The Brazilian also dubbed Paris’ performance in the Principality “our worst game of the year” and said PSG cannot just throw it all away now.
With that alarming statement, Marquinhos seems almost oblivious to the fact that his team, at least in Ligue 1, continue to lead the table with twelve points, even after Marseille’s hugely significant 2-1 home win over Nice, now second and fourth respectively. OM still play at the Parc des Princes themselves (17 April), but at the moment another competitor seems more likely to come into question should things get at least a little exciting again with nine games remaining and PSG’s form plummeting: Stade Rennes. The Bretons have won all of their past five games in Ligue 1, with a goal difference of 20:6 (!) and find themselves 13 points behind PSG.
0 points and 2:10 goals in four games – PSG’s away record recently
Kylian Mbappé also had drastic words for Amazon Prime regarding motivation for the rest of the league season, after the early chance to win the first Champions League title, which he had longed for for many seasons, was lost in only one half: “We have to respect ourselves, respect the supporters, respect our families and those close to us. We have to respect ourselves if we have a minimum of self-respect. This was a game where that was missing (…). “
The Parisian, arguably still at his best in the Monaco defeat, also pointed out that from his point of view people would always remember the Champions League and it almost didn’t matter to win 8 or 9 to 0, in the league. But in the entire Ligue 1 season, PSG brings it to just 25 points in 15 games at other stadiums. They did not even win half of all games (seven). In the Champions League, they even failed to win in all four games away from home, in the group stage in Bruges (1-1), Leipzig (2-2) and Manchester (1-2), before the appearance at the Bernabeu in Madrid (1-3).
Even if his own coach uses such words as follows and does not utter the PR-speak that is usually so common, one knows that the situation in Paris is currently more than tense, but perhaps already boiled over: “Yes, this is unacceptable. We cannot start the game in such a way. It’s a shame because we are competitors. We have to look forward and finally put the frustration from the Champions League behind us, remembering to give the best for ourselves and the club, the institution,” Mauricio Pochettino said at the press conference after the Monaco game.
Giving the best to the players themselves, the club and the institution – there are already rumours about whether the coach and how many of the players will still be seen in Parisian kit from the beginning of July. “Le Parisien”, for example, has been reporting for several weeks that Pochettino and PSG are to part ways in the summer; in addition to Mbappé’s whereabouts, Lionel Messi’s also seemed to be in doubt recently.
