Criticized, sometimes dominated, but never resigned. Against Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain once again proved that its strength doesn’t lie solely in its style of play. According to Laurent Fournier, a former PSG player, in L’Équipe, Luis Enrique’s men drew on their mentality to overcome difficult moments, carried by united individual talents like Bradley Barcola (23 years old), Gonçalo Ramos (24 years old), not forgetting the excellent performance of Lucas Chevalier (24 years old).
Fournier: “Marseille managed to escape PSG’s pressing quite easily.”
“Can Marseille have any regrets? They were enterprising, both in their play and in duels, against a more passive PSG…
Marseille managed to escape PSG’s pressing quite easily, with well-constructed phases, runs in behind, or long balls to push the defensive line upfield. They created some good chances, but PSG were solid and could rely on Chevalier.” Paris was comfortable against PFC too (2-1, Matchday 17, Sunday), maybe they couldn’t raise the bar. But still, with these individual talents… Barcola’s assist for the 2-2 equalizer was something else!
Fournier: “The pressure in Paris isn’t the same”
Has Chevalier taken control again?
We saw his qualities in Lille. The pressure in Paris isn’t the same. But when you see all his saves today, if he continues like this with the footwork he has, he’s going to do this team a lot of good. I like his personality; it’s not easy to bounce back when you’ve been criticized like that.
More generally, they managed the penalty shootout superbly. It’s the experience of high-level matches, plus the accumulated confidence. When you see Nuno Mendes after his penalty, he’s smiling. The others are stressed. It seems easy for them.
Fournier: “You have to have an exemplary mentality not to shy away from being a substitute.”
Before that, Paris was saved once again by Gonçalo Ramos… Does he deserve more?
“You have to have an exemplary mentality not to shy away from being a substitute. It’s never easy to come on, especially when your team is struggling. And he gets them back on track. His volley, the first penalty. Hats off to him! You don’t sense the guy frustrated at being on the bench; he’s calm. Maybe this role suits him, maybe he sees it as a kind of recognition.”
This PSG isn’t always dazzling, but it has become resilient. Against an enterprising Marseille team, Paris accepted the pressure without falling apart. The most telling symbol remains Bradley Barcola’s pass to Gonçalo Ramos: a winger capable of causing havoc on his own, but who chooses the right move to save his team. It’s not spectacular, it’s better: it’s a collective effort. Moreover, these are two substitutes who could have been frustrated by their fate that evening.
In goal, Lucas Chevalier embodied this new mentality. Criticized, scrutinized, sometimes compared, he never shied away from the pressure. His saves, his composure, his footwork reassured the entire team. Even in the penalty shootout, PSG exuded an almost disconcerting serenity, like Nuno Mendes (23 years old), smiling while others doubted themselves. Paris doesn’t always win by dominating. But it wins because everyone fights, right to the very end.
