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Tag: PSG

  • ‘Jose Mourinho is a breath of fresh air for everyone’

    ‘Jose Mourinho is a breath of fresh air for everyone’

    Alessandro Florenzi thinks Roma can win the Serie A title under new manager Jose Mourinho – but is not sure whether he will play under the coach next season.

    Mourinho was the surprise choice to succeed Paulo Fonseca at the Serie A club next season, and will have a decision to make over Florenzi, who has spent this season on loan at Paris Saint-Germain.

    The 31-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport : “It’s a breath of fresh air for everyone, Mourinho may be one of the coaches with the most experience and personality. One that will be able to control the Roman environment, I hope he can do well.”

    Asked whether Mourinho can bring the Scudetto to Roma, Florenzi said: “As a fan, I hope so. So that I can go to the Circo Massimo to celebrate.”

  • Not time to discuss Neymar, Mbappe futures – PSG chief

    Not time to discuss Neymar, Mbappe futures – PSG chief

    PSG football chief Leonardo says it’s too soon to consider the futures of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

    Leonardo was pushed about the pair after their Champions League semifinal defeat to Manchester City,

    Leonardo insisted: “Honestly, now is not the time to decide or announce anything.

    “We must be proud of what we have done. Our goal is to win.

    “We got out of very difficult situations during the competition. I am optimistic for the future.”

  • Man City have taken a historic step – Fernandinho

    Man City have taken a historic step – Fernandinho

    Fernandinho says Manchester City have taken a ‘big step’ in the club’s history after qualifying for their first Champions League final.

    The Sky Blues claimed a 2-1 win over PSG on Tuesday to book their place in the final.

    “I think this is a big step for the club and everyone,” Fernandinho after the victory.

    “We are so grateful for everyone which has done so much for this club, worked so hard.

    “This is a big achievement for us, I’m glad and grateful to reach the Champions League final for the first time, I think everyone deserves to celebrate.”

  • Mahrez sends Man City into first Champions League final

    Mahrez sends Man City into first Champions League final

    Manchester City reached their first Champions League final as they overcame Paris St-Germain at Etihad Stadium to secure a commanding victory over two legs.

    In a game played in unseasonal snow, the brilliant Riyad Mahrez capped a sweeping move started by goalkeeper Ederson’s 60-yard pass to extend their 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Paris.

    PSG suffered a serious blow before kick-off when world-class forward Kylian Mbappe was restricted to the bench because of injury. They did not lack endeavour or intent but with Neymar subdued and City throwing bodies on the line in defence, Mauricio Pochettino’s side could not find a way through.

    Mahrez punished them again just after the hour when he turned in Phil Foden’s cross at the far post to effectively end the contest.

    PSG, as they did when Idrissa Gueye was sent off late in the first leg, lost their discipline and Angel di Maria was shown a red card for a senseless stamp on Fernandinho following a touchline tangle.

    City were in full control, avoiding further mishap to set up the Champions League final they and manager Pep Guardiola have craved, against either Chelsea or Real Madrid in Istanbul on 29 May.

  • UCL: PSG coach reveals plan for Man City battle

    UCL: PSG coach reveals plan for Man City battle

    PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino says key to victory at Manchester City tonight is keeping them away from the ball.

    PSG meet City needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit to reach the Champions League final.

    Pochettino said, “It’s the intention to deprive them of the ball. We are a team that also loves possession, but with a balance between possession and transition, due to the characteristics of our players.

    “We will have to be clinical and aggressive. We need at least two goals to advance to the final.

    “The final is a unique match, and that depends on several factors. In the semi-final you have two matches, the emotional approach is different, it will be there, because it’s a result that affects your approach to the match. They will have an advantage and of course we will have to take risks, be aggressive. It’s hard to know the keys to this game. Things are difficult to anticipate.

    “Football is a game that may surprise you. There may be moments during the encounter that you will be able to manage because you have been successful in creating certain habits throughout the season. This is the method, the philosophy, and the team is prepared to manage these moments.”

  • Neymar wants to be PSG’s “first warrior” in Man City battle

    Neymar wants to be PSG’s “first warrior” in Man City battle

    Neymar has issued a rallying call to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) ahead of their 2020/2021 UEFA Champions League semi-final showdown with Manchester City.

    The Brazilian claimed he was ready to “die on the pitch”.

    PSG slipped to a 2-1 defeat in last week’s first leg at Parc des Princes, with Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez overturning Marquinhos’ first-half opener.

    An impressive opening to the contest from Mauricio Pochettino’s men subsided, with Manchester City exerting almost complete control on proceedings after the interval.

    Neymar cut an increasingly isolated figure, while attacking partner Kylian Mbappe failed to attempt a single shot after starting a match for the first time in his Champions League career.

    The world’s most expensive player is aware of the tall task that awaits at the Etihad Stadium.

    But he has not given up hope of last season’s beaten finalists returning to the showpiece.

    “We have a very difficult match against Manchester City, but we have to believe, no matter what the stats or our percentage chance of winning is,” Neymar told PSG’s in-house channel.

    “I think that every Parisian has to believe in us. I’ll be the first to do so.

    “I’m on the front line and I’ll be the first warrior to go into battle for the team.

    “I’m going to give the best of myself and I’ll do everything I can to qualify, whatever happens.”

    With a chuckle, he added: “Even if I have to die on the pitch.”

    The stats Neymar alludes to certainly do not make for comfortable reading for those of a PSG persuasion.

    There have been 47 previous instances of English clubs winning the first leg of Champions League or European Cup tie away from home.

    On each occasion, they have progressed.

    Manchester City have won each of their past six UEFA Champions League matches and have 10 out of 11 victories this season.

    A goalless draw at FC Porto was the only blemish.

    A seventh win would edge Pep Guardiola’s men ahead of Manchester United (1965 and 1966), Leeds United (1969 and 1970) and Arsenal (2005).

    It will make them the outright English record-holders for the longest winning run in Europe’s premier club tournament.

    PSG have played Manchester City four times in European competitions and are yet to beat the Manchester side

  • Man City will suffer against extraordinary PSG – Guardiola

    Man City will suffer against extraordinary PSG – Guardiola

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola expects to “suffer” against PSG tomorrow night in their Champions League semifinal.

    City hold a 2-1 lead after an impressive performance and result in Paris last week as Guardiola’s side look to reach the Champions League final for the first time.

    “Emotions means you can’t predict a game, but it can be completely different to what you expect,” Guardiola said, at his pre-match press conference on Monday.

    “You can’t play 90 minutes like we played the second half. It’s not going to happen, it will be tough, we will suffer. I’m sure we will react well and impose. It comes from inside, visualise what we have to do.

    “It’s not different from what we’ve done over the last eight months, we don’t demand anything special. It’s real tough, the Premier League is the same level as PSG, you always play difficult games in the Champions League too.

    “To do what we’ve done this season, in the bad moments stay calm, take the ball, try to regain our momentum and try to win the game. How big will be our good moments will be the difference. After that belongs to the players, the desire to do something nice for us, to make a step forward, to individually say we will win the game.”

    On PSG, Guardiola continued: “They are an extraordinary team, everybody knows it.

    “They can create something nobody expects to win. Of course I look at their qualities, but it’s fresh what they leave on the pitch. At the same time we know how good we can be.

    “Tomorrow at 8pm we have to be there and do it again. It’s not complicated.”

  • Barca approach PSG for Neymar transfer talks

    Barca approach PSG for Neymar transfer talks

    La Liga giant Barcelona have approached Paris Saint-Germain about talks over Neymar.

    RAC1 reports Barcelona continue to dream of bringing Neymar back to the Camp Nou to play alongside Lionel Messi and have reached out to Paris Saint-Germain to test the waters.

    The Brazilian hasn’t hidden his desire to play with Messi again and Joan Laporta would love to make it happen this summer.

    The Parisian club have informed Barcelona that he is not for sale.

    PSG are in fact trying to extend Neymar’s current deal, which expires in summer 2022, but the Blaugrana are not giving up hope, especially if no deal is reached betweent the player and his current club.

  • Ligue 1: Neymar leads PSG to significant win over Lens

    Ligue 1: Neymar leads PSG to significant win over Lens

    Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) moved provisionally back to the top of the French Ligue 1 on Saturday, thanks to a battling 2-1 win over Lens at the Parc des Princes.

    Neymar scored the opener and crossed for Marquinhos to head in the champions’ second.

    It was a good response to their 2-1 home loss to Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League this week.

    With Kylian Mbappe missing through injury and Marco Verratti, Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera starting on the bench, PSG were made to work hard.

    But it was a result which lifted them back above Lille at the summit, at the very least for a few hours.

    Ignatius Ganago pulled a goal back for European hopefuls Lens, but Mauricio Pochettino’s men held firm for a morale-boosting win.

    This has come ahead of their second-leg clash with Manchester City in England on Tuesday.

    PSG, who lost right-back Colin Dagba to injury before the 20-minute mark, had few early chances in spite of their dominance.

    But Danilo Pereira tested Wuilker Farinez with a powerful header that was well saved by the Lens goalkeeper.

    Lens had done well to keep Neymar quiet but gifted him the opener 32 minutes in.

    The Brazil star slotted home confidently after Julian Draxler had pinched possession from Facundo Medina on the edge of the penalty box.

    Pablo Sarabia should have scored a second after Neymar’s header from a fine Marquinhos pass, but Farinez produced a superb one-handed stop.

    Also, Lens could have snatched an equaliser before half-time had Jonathan Clauss and Clement Michelin shown more composure inside the penalty box.

    Lens began the second half well but PSG doubled their lead just before the hour mark, Marquinhos rising unchallenged to head in Neymar’s corner-kick from the right.

    However, the visitors halved the deficit barely two minutes later, with Ganago hooking the ball through Navas’ legs after Arnaud Kalimuendo sliced an attempted overhead kick.

    Neymar curled a free-kick off the right post, seemingly via the fingertips of Farinez, and Mauro Icardi saw a goal disallowed for a Marco Verratti offside.

    But Lens could not capitalise on those moments of fortune.

  • Wenger: Stupid PSG mentally collapsed after City loss

    Wenger: Stupid PSG mentally collapsed after City loss

    Former Arsenal boss Areene Wenger slammed PSG’s players as “stupid” after their Champions League defeat to Manchester City.

    Wenger believes PSG’s second-half collapse was due to their poor discipline.

    Speaking about Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick, Wenger told beIN SPORT: “From the defenders turning their back, it’s between Paredes and Kimpembe. Why do you lie a guy on the ground if the guys in the wall open the wall?’

    “I personally believe that the second goal is not acceptable for that level. It’s not the first time we see players turning their back and City took advantage of that.

    “But I must say in the second half PSG were protective and not progressive any more. Is it because they were not physically capable?

    “After the 1-1, they collapsed completely. They become emotional and aggressive in a stupid way.”

    PSG became visibly irate as the second half turned against them with Neymar particularly getting embroiled in spats off the ball after a first half where he shone for the French giants.

    “What was very interesting tonight is that you could see that when it was 1-1, PSG mentally collapsed,” Wenger added.

    “This is as well the consequence of this team losing eight games in the league. This has an impact in this kind of situation.

    “When it’s 1-1 the team knows they have lost many games, they carry that. It’s not like the season before when they were unbeatable in the league.

    “You could see the confidence dropped considerably and the mental impact when Man City equalised, for the semi-final of a Champions League, was too big.”