Former French international Bixente Lizarazu spoke to L’Equipe about Paris Saint-Germain’s 0-1 victory over Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. He praised the overall performance of 24-year-old Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. He liked the Parisians’ solidarity and strength, even if he expressed concern after 27-year-old Ousmane Dembélé went off injured.
Lizarazu “I loved his state of mind”.
“Great efforts from Kvaratskhelia?
I loved his state of mind. When you’re a full-back, it’s a great comfort because you know he’s always going to come and help you, that he’s always going to do the job. It’s pretty symbolic of a team that’s fairly collective and where everyone works hard.
Dembélé is the front-runner, and behind him, Kvara will be doing a titanic job of defending to relieve the pressure on his left flank. These are very positive signs for a team’s collective spirit.
Lizarazu “Arsenal came out of that game worried, saying, ‘Wow, how do we do this?
Confidence for the second leg?
The concern I have is to have seen Dembélé go off. I hope it’s nothing serious. Without Dembélé, the attack doesn’t have the same flavor. But I’m confident. Away from home, they showed a clear superiority in the first half and an ability to resist without too many problems in the second.
Arsenal came out of that match worried, saying to themselves: “Wow, how do we do it? It’s a positive thing psychologically. And we knew there would be a big battle for control of the ball. The battle was won by PSG.
And once they have control of the game, they can manage the tempo and take the pressure off themselves. Possession is a bit like a thermostat: when there’s a fire, you switch on possession and reduce the temperature.”
Bixente Lizarazu’s comment perfectly highlights the collective strength of Paris Saint-Germain, an aspect that has been asserted under Luis Enrique. This type of “everybody works” mentality is the hallmark of great teams capable of withstanding pressure and controlling the tempo of the match, as PSG demonstrated against Arsenal.
Luis Enrique has succeeded in instilling this culture of collective play and possession, making PSG a team capable of adapting and managing the match’s high and low points. His management of the midfield and his emphasis on defensive stability are key to PSG’s current success.
However, Ousmane Dembélé’s exit through injury remains a source of concern. Dembélé, the decisive goalscorer and first striker, brings an irreplaceable technical dimension and capacity for percussion to the front line. His hamstring injury, though apparently minor according to early reports and Luis Enrique’s reassuring words, casts doubt on his presence in the second leg.
Without him, the Parisian attack loses creativity and unpredictability, two major assets at major European tournaments. His speedy recovery will therefore be crucial to maintaining PSG’s collective and attacking momentum.
