Paris Saint-Germain embarrasses itself in Newcastle. Coach Luis Enrique finds himself in need of explanation after questionable tactics.
After the Newcastle debacle, Luis Enrique took full blame. “Of course I am the main responsible for today’s result,” said the Paris Saint-Germain coach after the amateurish performance of his star ensemble in the 1:4 (0:2) in the Champions League.
Kylian Mbappé, Randal Kolo Muani, Goncalo Ramos, Ousmane Dembélé: Enrique ordered four world-class strikers into the starting line-up against the newly rich Premier League club – and promptly received payment for his daring tactics.
“That was a game to forget,” said ex-Munich player Lucas Hernández, adding that PSG were “outnumbered” in midfield and therefore “in trouble”. “The result is a little exaggerated,” Enrique defended himself afterwards, saying it doesn’t show “the difference between the two teams.”
Nevertheless, the Spaniard had to put up with a few questions about his lineup. With only three wins from seven games, Paris is clearly behind their expectations in Ligue 1, and Enrique’s team was once again puzzling against the Magpies.
“You wouldn’t have expected that,” said Dortmund’s sports director Sebastian Kehl, but PSG is still doing well in BVB Group F after their opening win against Westphalia (2-0).
Nevertheless, the turbulent summer does not seem to have left its mark on the French champions. Superstar Mbappé’s performance fluctuates alarmingly.
The exceptional striker, who does not want to extend his contract on the Seine, which expires in 2024, and has therefore been excluded in the meantime, sometimes seems listless. In PSG’s worst defeat in the group stage of the premier class since Qatar took over twelve years ago, the 2018 world champion remained pale.
At least Enrique didn’t want to deny his team the opportunity to play in the north of England. “There was no problem with the attitude of my players,” emphasized the Spaniard defiantly; it was “optimal”. The Parisians have been desperately chasing the dream of the Champions League title for years, now they have to survive the strong group.
“It’s up to us to learn from our mistakes,” said Hernández, who scored the goal to make it 1-3 (56th) in Newcastle: “And it’s up to us to show this on the pitch, not in front of cameras and microphones.”