Money can’t buy PSG Upbeat Reds relishing trip success in Europe to Old Trafford
PARIS ST GERMAIN’S early exit from the Champions League again showed the club’s inability to deliver on the biggest stage despite their expensively assembled team.
PSG were knocked out in the last 16 by Real Madrid 5-2 on aggregate, losing 2-1 at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, never threatening a comeback following their 3-1 defeat in the first leg in Spain. Without Neymar, who is recovering from ankle surgery, Unai Emery’s side failed to create space against the defending champions.
“All that for this,” wrote French sports daily L’Equipe on their front page.
“PSG disappeared without leaving a trace,” the paper wrote in a column.
Since Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) took over in 2011, PSG have never reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, being eliminated in the last 16 twice in a row after four consecutive quarter-final exits. Spending 400million euros on Neymar and France international Kylian Mbappe did not help as the Brazilian played poorly in the first leg and his striking partner was nowhere to be seen on Tuesday.
In Ligue 1, PSG lead the standings by a massive 14 points after 28 games and it could be said that they lack the competitiveness of a bigger league to prepare them for the Champions League knockout stage.
Former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi, however, believes the club founded in 1970 have to build their identity.
“PSG is just a group of players,” he told Italian TV.
“You cannot buy ideas. The club should always come first. I thought I would see players with the bit between their teeth. I think PSG need to become an institution.”
PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi said he was “disappointed by a few players,” among which should feature midfielder Marco Verratti, who picked up a second yellow card for arguing with referee Felix Brych.
It was Verratti’s third dismissal in the Champions League, and it appeared to seal his team’s fate as they were already 1-0 down after Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener.
Al-Khelaifi, however, is convinced the club’s method is the right one.
“I don’t think it’s a mindset problem. The players believed in it and we were ready,” he said. “We will not change our investment strategy. We will continue with our project notably with those two players (Neymar and Mbappe) because they are the future of the club.” – Reuters LIVERPOOL forward Sadio Mane believes the Merseyside club have the ability to defeat any team in the world, including bitter rivals and Saturday’s Premier League opponents Manchester United.
The two clubs are battling to finish as the best of the rest behind runaway league leaders Manchester City with United second in the table, two points ahead of third-placed Liverpool with nine games remaining in the campaign.
Liverpool have won four of their last five league games and booked a Champions League quarter-final berth on Tuesday as a 0-0 draw in the second leg of their last-16 tie with Porto helped Jurgen Klopp’s side record a 5-0 aggregate win.
“It will not be easy but I’ve always said we can beat any team in the world,” Mane told British media. “Honestly they (Manchester United) are one of the best teams in England, of course in the world also, but we are as well.
“It’s the dream for every single player to play this kind of game so everyone is looking forward to it.”
United have won three of their last five league games, including consecutive wins over Chelsea and Crystal Palace, and the home side will be confident ahead of Saturday’s match as City are the only visitors to win a league game at Old Trafford this season.
Liverpool last won at Old Trafford in 2014 but goalkeeper Loris Karius is confident that the Merseyside club can get a crucial win as they aim to seal Champions League football for next season.
“It’s a very big game for us, for the club, for the fans,” Karius said. “With the situation being this tight together on the table also, we can’t really ask for more.
“Of course they have a good squad and we have respect for them, but we don’t fear anyone. We’re really confident, looking at ourselves and our own abilities, we know we can beat them. We want to go directly into the Champions League again, there’s not many places for it and second (place) would be ideal obviously.”
Meanwhile United midfielder Nemanja Matic said: “We’ll show the same character as we did (against Crystal Palace)... but we have to be honest... we have to play better, especially when you see our first half performance”. – Reuters