PSG shaken ahead of big game against OM
PARIS, Oct 13, (AP): Having a crisis in autumn is kind of a tradition at Paris Saint-Germain, and this year is no exception.
The problem for PSG this season is that it’s happening just before the game against rivals Marseille, which look rejuvenated under coach Igor Tudor and travel to the Parc des Princes on Sunday in good form.
Just a fortnight ago, the horizon looked clear for the French champions, who looked to build on a great start to the season in both their domestic and continental campaigns.
But the picture has changed dramatically, and very quickly.
The team coached by Christophe Galtier conceded three consecutive draws - including two against Benfica in the Champions League - while rumors that Kylian Mbappé wants to leave the club during the January transfer window emerged this week.
Additionally, French investigative media Mediapart published a story Wednesday claiming that PSG in recent years worked with an external company to create an “army” of fake Twitter accounts in a bid to denigrate media perceived as hostile to the club.
According to Mediapart, some players were also targeted, including Mbappé when reports that he wanted a transfer to Real Madrid surfaced in 2019.
PSG have denied the allegations. In terms of points, however, the situation at the capital city club is far from being catastrophic.
Still unbeaten in all competitions, PSG have a three-point lead over Marseille at the top of the standings while their latest draw at Benfica in the Champions League left them atop Group H with two games left.
SOCCER
But PSG’s quality of play has faded and the team are finding it increasingly difficult to find the net after scoring 24 goals in its opening six league games.
Mbappé scored his 31st Champions League goal for PSG against Benfica to become the club’s record scorer in the competition.
The match was played only a few hours after a series of reports in France and Spain claimed that Mbappé wants to leave during the January transfer window, less than six months after the World Cup winner extended his contract.
Among the reasons behind Mbappé’s supposed frustration are unfulfilled recruitment promises, and is his role at PSG in the team’s front three. Mbappé recently suggested that he would rather play alongside with another striker - like he does with the France national team - rather than in a pivot role up front.
Galtier said this week that the club tried to recruit another striker with a different profile to allow Mbappé to play in his preferred position, but that it didn’t happen.
Meanwhile, the MNM trio of Mbappé, Neymar and Lionel Messi could be back for “Le Classique” against Marseille.
Messi has missed PSG’s last two games in all competitions because of slight calf problem. Galtier said the Argentina great is feeling better and is likely to return on Sunday.
Known as “Le Classique,” the match between PSG and Marseille became popular during the 1990s when the arrival of prominent stars such as Rudi Voeller and George Weah ignited a strong rivalry.
But Marseille, the only French team to win the Champions League back in 1993, have fallen well behind since PSG were taken over by Qatari investors in 2011.
The southern French club are, however, enjoying a strong revival under Tudor and will be looking of their fist win against PSG in two years.
Tudor, who replaced Jorge Sampoli, has led Marseille to seven wins from its first 10 league matches while developing an attacking style of play based on pace, tempo and hard press.
Marseille’s 2-0 win at Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League this week marked the first time it has won back-to-back games in the group stage in more than a decade. The win also ended a run of 18 Champions League matches without a clean sheet.