On Tuesday, Paris Saint-Germain won against AS Monaco for the first of their two-legged Champions League playoff tie (2-3. José-Karl Pierre-Fanfan, former defender for Monaco (2001-2003) and PSG (2003-2005), shared his analysis of PSG’s performance with the newspaper Le Parisien.
Pierre-Fanfan: “This PSG side isn’t offering the same guarantees as last season.”
“How can we explain PSG’s poor start to the match? Are they too confident?
This is a PSG that isn’t offering the same guarantees as last season. Defensively, they were very solid (on the opening goal). Numerically, they’re in position, but there’s no coordination in their movement. They’re not in the rhythm of a Champions League match; they’re at a leisurely trot and are being punished.
The best Parisian player?
We can’t underestimate the introduction of Désiré Doué, who scored the goal to reduce the deficit and bring hope. He was also involved in the second goal and scored the third. With his impact and determination, he perhaps had something to make up for. He was the standout player for PSG.
Pierre-Fanfan: “This is a PSG that’s searching for itself individually and collectively.”
Regrets for Paris with only 2-3?
They managed to put the A third goal to take the lead, but I feel like we could have added another 10 minutes and not much would have happened. Their possession was really sterile, with very little intensity in the final third. This is a PSG side that’s searching for itself individually and collectively and is struggling to be clinical at the moment.”
It’s an important victory for PSG, despite being under pressure from the outset against this Monaco team determined to win on their home turf. Trailing 2-0 after just 20 minutes, it was difficult for Luis Enrique’s men to stay in the game. However, they managed to do so, and the introduction of Désiré Doué, replacing Ousmane Dembélé, ultimately proved beneficial.
The young Parisian striker quickly reduced the deficit before even scoring the winning third goal. While this victory is important, a little more is still needed to be truly reassuring. We’re hoping for a more complete performance at the Parc des Princes next Wednesday to secure qualification and, above all, to build more confidence for the later rounds.
There still seem to be positives, with PSG showing they can react, dominate, and win. Of course, they can do better. But we shouldn’t forget that things weren’t always perfect last season either.
