It was already off to a bad start, it’s almost official after this Tuesday evening: Paris will not be able to aim for better than qualification for the Champions League play-offs. The different statistical models predicting the number of points necessary to secure the top-8, the first places in the ranking directly qualifying in 1/8th, leave Paris with only an infinitesimal chance of achieving this feat with 13 points (less than 5% ). And for that, PSG will need to win their last three matches.
After the new defeat conceded this Tuesday evening on the Bayern pitch (1-0), the trend was clearly not towards optimism, nor in the belief in small percentages which make big differences. Paris, provisionally 26th in the ranking and irremediably stuck at 4 points after 5 matches, is sinking to the bottom of the table and into gloom. “If we look at the ranking, we are worried,” assured Marquinhos at the microphone of Canal + after the meeting. We have three finals to play. Our goal remains to qualify. »
Frustrated, the Brazilian captain focused attention on the referee of the match Istvan Kovacs, and his decision in particular to exclude Ousmane Dembélé on the hour mark. “We don’t like to talk about refereeing, but he was against us, estimated the Parisian defender. In the first half, it was close. We were trying to press too. We took too many risks. We changed in the second half. But with red it was difficult for us. »
“We cannot hide, the situation is difficult”
Also interviewed on Canal +, before his appearance at a press conference, Luis Enrique however refuted the idea that his players are hiding behind excuses to justify their European difficulties. “I believe that our team is in a very interesting project, based on the future,” he repeated. We showed in many matches that we were at the level. Even when we lose, we always want to attack. If anyone is to blame it’s me, and I accept all criticism. »
“It’s difficult to talk,” said Vitinha, out of breath after a very physically demanding match. He too, frustrated, believes that PSG “comes out with the impression that the match is different if we do not take this red”. “After the red, it was physically difficult,” he continues. “We gave everything. (…) I continue to say that we have a very good team, that we can beat the best teams. Unfortunately, we have no luck in this Champions League. This one again, with red, it becomes difficult. » And to come to the same conclusion as Marquinhos: “Of course, we cannot hide, the situation is difficult. We have to win all three matches. »
The first of these three matches will arrive quickly: December 10, in Salzburg. Then we will have to wait until the end of January, the 22nd for the reception of Manchester City and the 29th for a final trip to Stuttgart. For Paris, unfortunately, everything could only be decided in the last minutes of this “league phase” of the C1, which reserves more challenges than expected for Luis Enrique and his men.
