Laurent Blanc, former Paris Saint-Germain coach (2013-2016) and currently without a club, was asked by Le Parisien to share his thoughts on the current PSG side under Luis Enrique and tonight’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena (kick-off at 9 pm CET, PSG won the first leg 5-4).
Blanc: “When attacking talent is too strong for the opposing defense, you get this kind of match.”
“We were dealing with players who excel in one-on-one situations, players who love to create chances. Because they often manage to get past you, they inevitably put you in an awkward position. When attacking talent is too strong for the opposing defense, you get this kind of match.
Blanc: “There won’t be a third match.”
Can we expect to relive such a match?
We’ll have the same match. I know Luis Enrique well, less so Kompany, but he seems to be cut from the same cloth. Neither of them will change their vision of football. And that’s a strength. I expect a second very high-level encounter, with one difference in training session, however. There won’t be a third match. In short, if one of the two clubs creates a clear advantage, I expect to see the coach in question manage the result in the last 20-25 minutes.”
The defenses weren’t perfect in the first leg, but far from being as weak as the scoreline might suggest. Above all, there were extremely talented attacking players in top form. They might have less luck tonight, just as the goalkeepers or defenders might be a bit more inspired. Football is fast-paced, even more so between these two teams. Everything can change in an instant.
We expect PSG and Bayern to stick to their usual style, so we should expect an exciting match. But not necessarily a high-scoring affair. And let’s not forget that the stakes can sometimes take over. A more defensive approach is also possible depending on how the scoreline develops. It will be a very high-level match, that’s for sure. But we shouldn’t be disappointed by over-expecting a spectacle.
