Five-star PSG on the money
BrenDAn rodgers said Celtic’s ambition for the Champions League this season was not to lose their first game 7-0, likening Paris SaintGermain to a team of motorbikes. We presumed he was joking.
OK, the damage was just five — three of them scored in a blistering first half — but that was only because the visitors eased off the accelerator after half-time, performing a victory lap which brought two more goals and inflicted Celtic’s heaviest home defeat since 1895.
rodgers certainly wasn’t joking when he came to reflect.
‘We played like Under 12s at times in the first half,’ he said. ‘We were too far off them and didn’t keep the ball. If you do that against arguably the best team in the world they will punish you.’
Much was made of the numbers before kick off, PSG’s £419million strikeforce compared to the £17m it cost to assemble Celtic’s starting XI. But you get what you pay for and it was that three-man attack of neymar, Kylian Mbappe and edinson Cavani who netted before the break.
You had wondered how they would handle a sodden tuesday night in the east end of Glasgow with 57,000 locals making a noise so loud that the thunderous skies of Storm Aileen were muted. But the home crowd were soon silenced themselves.
PSG boss Unai emery said: ‘We had to deal with the intensity and noise but we showed a very controlled approach, I am very happy.’
rodgers gambled by handing just a fifth start to 18-year- old Anthony ralston. His direct opponent for the evening? neymar, the £198m man.
On two minutes, neymar skinned ralston with ease. On three minutes, ralston flattened neymar when he tried the same trick. At least the teenager is a quick learner.
PSG’s opener arrived on 19 minutes. Yes, Celtic should have had a free-kick when Scott Sinclair was tripped by thiago Motta. But that foul took place 70 yards from Celtic’s goal. Within five seconds the ball was in the back of the net, Adrien rabiot slipping a cute pass the wrong side of ralston before neymar clipped effortlessly over Craig Gordon.
Mbappe smashed PSG’s second from neymar’s headed cushion on 34 minutes and Cavani converted from the penalty spot after being tugged by Jozo Simunovic.
then came the embarrassment of a Celtic fan running on to the field and aiming a kick at Mbappe. It would be easy to say he got closer than his team’s defence had, but he didn’t. It was pathetic and he was rightly booed. UeFA are sure to take action.
‘the reaction of the crowd said it all,’ said rodgers. ‘It was bitterly disappointing and the club will deal with that person.’
In the end it was Celtic defender Mikael Lustig who netted PSG’s fourth when he turned in from Julian Draxler’s cross before Cavani headed a fifth.
And what about Draxler, a £34m substitute? Celtic really were lucky it wasn’t seven.