Beaten 2-1 by Sporting Lisbon despite a very clear domination, the Parisians are no longer guaranteed to remain in the top 8, synonymous with direct qualification for the round of 16 of the Champions League. That doesn’t worry them.
A show to forget defeat. Luis Enrique, who neither likes losing nor journalists, put on a show with delight after the match. Answering all the questions at length, he coated them with mischief, speaking frankly, speaking young with a “Don’t worry” dropped during a question on the entry of Illia Zabarnyi which smacked of too much controversy for him, and with a punchline which will go down in history: “Football is a shit sport”. An irony to describe the injustice of the result, this 2-1 quite improbable given the total domination of Parisian players (75% possession) with a cruel lack of lucidity in front of goal (6 shots on target out of 28).
Two strong ideas ran through Luis Enrique’s speech: his media outing makes it possible to dilute the defeat, to make it accidental and derisory since it is, according to him, the “best away match this season” for Paris. As with many coaches, the Asturian coach uses the press conference to speak not to the public but to his group. It’s management. As players read everything about them, they will see it written that he is “very proud of the team” and that they are going in the right direction.
“This is the personality we need to go far in the competition. I am confident for the future. With this character, we are ready everywhere, in all stadiums. »
In the same way, if Paris had obtained what its content deserved – a 3-1 victory for example – it would have mixed satisfaction and a call to order. Like after Lille (3-0), where most of his analysis consisted of emphasizing the missing pressing from the attackers during the first period.
Basically, it is possible that the coach of the European champions is not worried about qualification or the rest of the season. He is too angry to get excited when this copy was seen a week ago against the PFC and last season during the first matches of the Champions League. Before the explosion against Manchester City and until the end.
“We must not throw everything away”
Leaving the José Alvalade stadium, his players had no intention of lingering, too disappointed with the result which was still too fresh to digest. “There have been a lot of matches recently where we had possession, where we had chances, but if we are not effective, it can end like that,” explained Marquinhos who came to accept the unexpected defeat in front of the media. There were still some good things, we will discuss them in the locker room, listen to what the coach wants to improve. You shouldn’t throw everything away. »
Having fallen back to 5th place in the league phase, the Rouge et Bleu are likely to fall out of the top 8 after Wednesday evening’s matches, which would place them in a delicate position to grab a direct place in the round of 16. A disaster? Not necessarily, according to Luis Enrique, who did not seem to want a “too light” schedule before the meeting.
His players left Lisbon with their heads down, feeling like they had not been rewarded in a match where they had the control and the situations to win. “It’s a fairly frustrating defeat, because we put in good high pressure, with a lot of recoveries. We knew how to create chances, but we didn’t put them in the goal while they had 5 or 6 chances and scored 2 goals. In big matches, the little details make the difference,” summarized Warren Zaire-Emery during his time in the mixed zone.
“Last year it was the same thing”
Like Marquinhos, the young Parisian took the 2024-2025 season as an example to remind observers that Paris is capable of reversing the trend by regaining efficiency more in line with its ambitions. “Last year it was the same in the first half of the season and in the second half we won everything. I can’t say what has changed, we prepare the matches in the same way, we try to give everything, assures the French international. Football is an unfair sport, sometimes you have a bad match and you will win, other times you will have the best match of your life and you will lose. It’s part of the experience, you learn from each match. I think it will be useful for us going forward. »
The defeat in Lisbon now makes the Newcastle match crucial, the only window for the finale, next Wednesday at the Parc des Princes. “We are going to play it with the idea that it is a very important match, with our energy, in our house with the supporters. And if we do not qualify directly, then we will play in the play-offs and it will be up to us to find our place,” warns Marquinhos.
There was this need to spread a positive message so as not to fall into psychosis, while the machine seems a little more seized up than usual and luck is not going in the right direction at the moment. This Tuesday, only five outfield players were also on the bench. The returns from CAN of Achraf Hakimi and Ibrahim Mbaye will not be a luxury to bring new solutions.
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