Former Paris Saint-Germain striker Fabrice Pancrate offered a measured analysis of the draw against Newcastle in Le Parisien. Far from alarmist rhetoric, he attributes PSG’s recent doubts to details, absences, and fatigue rather than a breakdown in their game.
Pancrate: “In terms of performance, I wasn’t really disappointed.”
“What’s missing compared to the PSG that crushed all its opponents last year?”
“In terms of performance, I wasn’t really disappointed; very little was missing. Perhaps Fabian Ruiz’s absence was felt, and Kvaratskhelia’s injury also changed the game somewhat. It comes down to small details, and I hope that with the accumulation of matches, things will improve and they’ll rediscover the fluidity that brought them so much success last year.
If we analyze recent matches, the only problem is finishing.” In terms of their play, I’m not worried. They know how to produce beautiful moments and create chances; they’re just lacking a bit of luck. But I didn’t sense a Paris team that was desperate or out of sorts; these are just minor details.
Pancrate: “What has made Paris strong is their high, compact team pressing, something we haven’t seen as much of lately.”
Newcastle had chances; are you surprised by their defensive fragility?
“I wouldn’t say there’s any fragility. Paris’s play is attack-minded, with full-backs who play very high up the pitch, and that can open up spaces and create gaps. What has made Paris strong is their high, compact team pressing, something we haven’t seen as much of lately because the players are starting to feel the effects of fatigue. But I’m not worried about that either.”
In an atmosphere where every PSG performance is scrutinized, Fabrice Pancrate brings order to the debate. His assessment is clear: the content is nothing to worry about. Paris continues to play attractive football, create chances, and control long stretches of possession. What’s lacking now, according to him, is more about finishing than a structural problem.
The absences of Fabián Ruiz and the injury to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have understandably impacted the team’s fluidity, without, however, unbalancing it. Pancrate also emphasizes a key element often overlooked: the physical toll. The high press, a hallmark of Parisian football, requires a level of freshness that can’t be achieved simply by playing a lot of matches. In other words, Paris is neither lost nor regressing. It’s adjusting, pacing itself, and maintaining a solid foundation.
