Classy PSG turn on the style to book final spot
PARIS St Germain are one win away from Champions League glory after claiming an emphatic 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in the semi-final in Lisbon.
The French side have been chasing success in the premier European competition ever since they were taken over by Qatari investors in 2011, but they had only previously got to the quarter-final stage.
But they booked their place in the final thanks to goals from Marquinhos, Angel Di Maria (above with Neymar) and Juan Bernat and are on the cusp of finally achieving their goal of becoming European champions. They will now wait to see who they meet, with the second semi-final between favourites Bayern Munich and Lyon tonight.
Marquinhos headed PSG in front in the 13th minute when he met Di Maria’s inviting free-kick. Leipzig had their big chance to change the course of the game in the 25th minute when Konrad Laimer advanced down the right and teed up Yussuf Poulsen, but he skewed an effort from eight yards wide.
Neymar struck the frame of the goal again but PSG got their second in the 42nd minute and it was goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi who was to blame.
He misplaced a pass, which allowed Neymar to brilliantly flick into Di Maria’s path and he made no mistake from 10 yards.
Another defensive howler saw PSG kill the game 11 minutes after the restart.
Nordi Mukiele slipped in possession, allowing Di Maria to pick out Bernat and the midfielder made no mistake with his free header.
PSG had further chances but it was mission accomplished.
RONALD Koeman will swagger into the Nou Camp. The new Barcelona coach-elect has never been short of confidence or ambition.
His entire managerial career has been aimed at returning to Barca, where he spent six years as a player and a further two as an assistant to Louis van Gaal.
In the two decades since leaving Catalonia, Koeman has held 10 jobs. At every one — even in his most recent role at the helm of an exciting young Holland side — the Dutchman has given the impression that he was just passing through. He has now reached his destination.
Because every position was a stepping stone, the 57-year-old did not seem to worry about making friends or learning the culture of a club.
This was particularly evident during his last stint in the Premier League, a 16-month spell with Everton that ended with the team in the relegation zone and Koeman being replaced by Sam Allardyce. Barcelona must have overlooked that section of his resume.
All Koeman cared about was results. In his two seasons at Southampton he got them, taking the club to seventh and sixth-place finishes in the Premier League. Bigger things were expected at Everton. Goodison also has other requirements but the former defender was not interested in the metaphysics of managing a club like Everton.
Barcelona are as much a concept as a football team. They are a focus for Catalan identity and proudly proclaim their motto: “Mes que un club”. Everton also believe they are more than a club. Koeman barely seemed to acknowledge Goodison’s uniqueness.
Initially his directness and decisiveness were welcome after the confusion and sloppiness of the tail end of Roberto Martinez’s tenure.
Off the pitch his approach raised eyebrows. Koeman was not interested in Everton’s traditions. He posted a photograph of a Christmas tree decked in red decorations, muchtothechagrinofsome Evertonians.
Red is anathema for many at Goodison and the manager later put a picture online of the tree trimmed with a different colour scheme that did not feature the hated hues of Liverpool.
It was an amusing episode and Koeman embraced the humour, blaming his wife, but it was emblematic of his attitude. Everton’s history and the mindset of the fans appeared to be incidental to him.
There were many occasions where his demeanour caused annoyance to Goodison diehards.
After a gut-wrenching home derby defeat when Sadio Mane scored in the 94th minute, Koeman entered the press room afterwards laughing and smiling. To the Dutchman it was just another defeat.
For Evertonians any loss to Liverpool, never mind one in
Nou role: Ronald Koeman (top) after scoring the winner for Barcelona in the 1992 European Cup, and now set to succeed Quique Setien as coach
such dispiriting circumstances, is a calamity. David Moyes recognised the undercurrents that determined Goodison’s sense of self, embraced them and rode them through the bad times. Koeman did not care. When he hit his nadir he had few friends to defend him.
The start of his second season on Merseyside was grim. After spending £140m in the transfer window, expectations