Ligue 1: Monaco-PSG, hello sadness
Respectively eliminated in C3 and C1, Monegasques and Parisians, opponents this Sunday (1 p.m.), are in deep depression.
AS Monaco-PSG, a gala poster. At least, it has often been in the history of the French championship. Not so long ago, the two clubs were even vying for the league title. It was also the ASM which had taken the best of a still groggy Paris-SG after the comeback in 2017, against Barça. Although, it was especially in the first part of the season that Unai Emery’s men had the delay, before Radamel Falcao, Bernardo Silva, Fabinho and company flew to their eighth coronation, taking advantage of the hatching of a certain Kylian Mbappé, the icing on an already copious Asemist cake that year, to resist at the end.
This Sunday at 1 p.m., when the two clubs will meet at Louis II for the 29th day of Ligue 1, there will however be no question of a clash of titans for the title. Rather than a duel between two giants with feet of clay and in the midst of depression after their respective exits from the track on penalties in the Coupe de France, against Nice for Paris Saint-Germain and Nantes, for Monaco, and especially in European Cup.
Clément already in a situation of failure
For this ASM in full doubt, inoffensive (6 goals in 8 matches), inconstant, which no longer wins (1 victory in 8 matches) and in which one wonders what the change of coach – Philippe Clément has the place by Niko Kovac – distributed, it’s fresh. Wissam Ben Yedder and company were kicked out of the Europe League on Thursday by Portuguese side Braga. Defeat 2-0 in the first leg, draw 1-1 in the return on the Rock. Sad Monaco, which combined tactical and individual errors, lacks fighting spirit and idea. Elimination without glory or regret for Monegasques who missed him “many things” against the fourth in the Portuguese championship, according to Axel Disasi. Aurélien Tchouameni is marking time, Ben Yedder is no longer scoring, Alexander Nubel is struggling to convince… There is not much going wrong!
Read alsoLigue 1: for Philippe Clément, Kylian Mbappé is “the best striker in the world”
Suddenly, the arrival of PSG appears as a perfect opportunity to strike a blow, as in Marseille (0-1) or against Lyon (2-0). Especially since Monaco has historically often done well against the club from the capital. “Playing a big game would be the best answer to make our supporters forgive usSaid Disasi again on Thursday. “I saw disappointed faces yesterday (Friday), motivated too“Said Clément on Saturday, at a press conference, slipping that his team”reacted well against Marseille, Lyon or Lens“, teams that have decided to dominate in terms of possession of the ball.
“Some clubs have proven that it is possible to take points against them. We did it with Bruges, with less quality than Monaco. »
Philippe Clement
And the former coach of Bruges to continue:For each team in France, there are two exceptional matches each season, those against PSG. But some clubs have proven that it is possible to take points against them. We did it with Bruges (1-1 in the C1 group stage at the start of the season, editor’s note), with less quality than AS Monaco… It’s not as if the season was going to end. stop in case of defeat. We know the qualities of PSG… Obviously, I want to win this match, to bounce back. It can change a lot of things, in people’s minds, confidence. But we need a lot of solidarity, energy, to be united, efficient… Everything will have to be perfect.»
Change is now in Paris?
Last but not least, Paris is still in shock after his Madrid humiliation in the Champions League on February 15 against Real (3-1). The cheek is still fresh. “The elimination against Real Madrid represented a hard and unexpected blow… It will take time to regain normal sleep, normal behavior», confirms Mauricio Pochettino, recalling the whole «sadness sadnessfrom the locker room. “Everyone is affected. But in football, you can’t stop, you have to keep performing and achieving your goals. The one we have left is to win the championship“, he hammers.
Read alsoMercato: why AS Monaco trembles at the idea of Mbappé leaving free this summer
And the Rouge et Bleu cannot even seek the slightest comfort from their supporters, who jeered at them last Sunday against Bordeaux (3-0), in particular Neymar and Lionel Messi, sparing the former Monegasque Mbappé, irreproachable against Real, beyond reproach, and which they still hope to see extended at the end of the season and of his contract. A €35 million dream shared by the Monegasque management. Still, “Marqui” and consorts are undoubtedly well content to evolve far from a Parc des Princes which will be hostile to them until the “implementation of major changes at all levels“, as announced by the Collectif Ultras Paris. Which changes are not a priori for now. Contrary to the wishes of the CUP, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi should also retain the reins of the club.
Read alsoPSG: Neymar and Messi targeted, Mbappé spared, “direction resignation” … Story of a lunar afternoon in Paris
To see what will happen to Pochettino – who expressed his doubts and his desires to the press – and Leonardo. One thing is certain: even if Paris wins its 10th league title at the end of the season, which is very likely with a 15-point lead over OM and Nice, who are facing each other this Sunday evening (9 p.m.) , the discontent will not stop… In Monaco, the supporters are obviously less insistent and present, but the current eighth place in the standings before this 29th round is not related to local ambitions… No more than the game deployed by The men of Philippe Clément.
PSG quiet, Monaco no longer has the right to make mistakes
In summary, Parisians and Monegasques really need the three points this Sunday, just to brighten up a daily life which will only be punctuated by Ligue 1 by the end of a 2021-22 campaign which will be, although arrive, disappointing. This will allow the internationals of the two clubs to leave for the selection of the heart a little lighter before attacking the final sprint in L1. The loser, if there were to be one, would take the risk of seeing his deep depression turn into a serious crisis. If PSG kept a comfortable lead in the event of a setback, Monaco, beaten by Strasbourg last week after a poor performance (0-1), would see its European objectives move away a little more. Maximum pressure. To see if these two disappointed with Europe have the psychological springs, the means, to show their best face in this context.