DECRYPTION – Beyond the final result, discover what caught the attention of our journalist at the Parc des Princes, Sunday, during PSG-Lyon.
FAVORITES
«mark» in the spotlight
With the club focused on its objectives, and in particular the Champions League, Marquinhos’ record had gone somewhat unnoticed. At 29, the Brazilian defender became, during the… defeat against Barça (2-3), the most capped player in the club’s history. Sunday, PSG honored «mark» as it should be after the 4-1 victory against OL. “PSG is my life”, enthused the Parisian captain, who was playing his 438th match in Rouge et Bleu. Three more than the previous record holder, Jean-Marc Pilorget. “We are going to win the championship, the Coupe de France and the Champions League”, hammered Marquinhos in front of a conquered Parc des Princes, he who was sometimes taken aback by the public. From ancient history. At this tempting end to the season, all the lights are green for the Rouge et Bleu.
Also read “We are going to go for the Champions League”: Marquinhos moved and honored by PSG but far from being satisfied
Gonçalo Ramos, quite a symbol
Luis Enrique had chosen to breathe Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé on Sunday. And this when he already had to do without the services of Lucas Hernandez (suspended) and Nuno Mendes (spared). It didn’t show. PSG marched on OL, notably with a double from Gonçalo Ramos. “It shows the value of the team, the quality of the players who returned. It also highlights the coach’s philosophy. Everybody is ready”, underlines Marquinhos. Third most effective player in Ligue 1 in terms of goals/minutes played ratio, the Portuguese represents the perfect symbol of this winning policy of «Fought». He did not play for Barcelona. He took his chance against Lyon. “He is always there where he is needed, he helps when we don’t have the ball, he offers solutions when we have it, he does the pressing”, savors the Parisian coach. And to add: “We arrive at the key moment of the season in our best moment and above all, with many options, because there can always be a suspension or an injury”. If necessary, Ramos will be ready.
SEE ALSO – Gonçalo Ramos’ double during Paris SG-Lyon on April 21 (4-1)
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Read also PSG-Lyon notes: Ramos sees double, Vitinha delights, Lacazette powerless
PSG, full palette
A fan of possession and total control, Luis Enrique has put water in his wine. No choice given the qualities of its players. “This mix of dominance and depth makes us harder to play», jubilant the Parisian coach, who saw his team score in different ways on Sunday. On sequences of possession, in transition and even on set pieces. A new alternation. “Ultimately, our goal is to benefit from what the adversary gives us. If it is low, we must be effective in the possession game. If he dares to put pressure on us, we have to attack in depth. If he presses us high, we should take advantage of the spaces. In fact, it all depends on where the spaces are, we try to identify it. Over the months, we identify the best situations. We start to see game situations that we already master and we control what we need to do“, underlines “Lucho”, whose game project is progressing well.
CLAW STRIKES
Randal Kolo Muani, missed appointment
Not that Randal Kolo Muani completely missed his match. But facing a Lyon team that was overwhelmed in the first half, he was unable to actively participate in the party. “Today, all that was missing was a goal from Kolo Muanibreathes Luis Enrique. But I’m happy with his performance. He also has a strong goals/matches played ratio. It’s obviously beneficial for the team to have attackers like that, attackers of this level”. There is no doubt that the French international will have other opportunities to show himself between now and the end of the season. But barring injury or suspension, it will be off the bench or… in matches without a stake in the French championship. In his defense, the game went a lot to the left, towards Bradley Barcola.
Read also PSG: “We arrive at the key moment of the season being in our best shape”, relishes Luis Enrique
Lyon not at the level
A team in good form at the start of the year, OL, once bottom, had 11 victories in their 13 previous meetings, in all competitions. Series which ended abruptly on Sunday. Picked cold with two goals in the first six minutes (!), the Gones then had to discover themselves and take even more risks than they had planned to take. Suicidal against this PSG… Pierre Sage revised his copy at the break, moving to five behind, but the damage was already done. When we see what a Paris A’ can do to Olympique Lyonnais, it is not very encouraging in terms of Rhone’s chances in the Coupe de France final, on May 25, in Lille… In the image by Nemanja Matic, OL’s hub since his arrival but overwhelmed on Sunday, coach Sage’s team missed the point. A gap class Sunday evening, on the lawn of the Parc des Princes. With a view to Europe, OL also did poorly in the L1 rankings.
