The heroes were tired. Five days after defeating Manchester City at Parc des Princes (2-0), PSG was surprised in Rennes (0-2). The Paris of Mauricio Pochettino concedes its first loss in Ligue 1 almost two months after its failure in the Champions Trophy (0-1) against Lille. The capital club, which remained on 8 successes in a row in the league, will not do better than during the 2018-2019 season under the Thomas Tuchel era (14 consecutive victories).
The Parisian staff had however decided to launch his big team with the MNM in front and only one change compared to the C1 with Di Maria instead of Herrera. This willingness to go on the offensive paid off for a good part of the first period when Paris should have taken the lead. Unfortunately for him, Leo Messi once again hit Gomis’ crossbar on a free-kick love. This is the third time since the start of the season and his face betrayed the annoyance of an Argentinian who still has not scored a single goal in Ligue 1. All this was before Paris was surprised by two Rennes goals just before, and after the break, first by Laborde then by Tait.
Neymar next to his pumps
The second was even scored barely 19 seconds after the resumption of play. This achievement by the Rennes midfielder signaled the hour of disappointment for the Parisian team, which has surely delivered its worst half-time since the start of the season. No balance, no collective control and a culpable apathy of the staff who waited the last quarter of an hour to make three simultaneous changes. Neymar totally beside his pumps left the field, along with Gueye and Verratti, less efficient than against Manchester City.
But it could also have concerned Hakimi, Mendes or even Di Maria struggling under the Breton sun. Of course, the goal denied to Mbappé twenty minutes from the end of the game would surely have changed the situation, but the offside of the French striker at the start of the action was very real. The fact remains that Paris, after its enchanted parenthesis in C1, has not removed all the doubts that escort its start to the season. And for now, MNM is still a concept.
