favorites and scratches after PSG-Angers

FAVORITES

Ekitike, regained confidence

“When it goes back, there will be plenty of it.” This is what Hugo Ekitike promised at the beginning of November, before unlocking his counter. He kept his word. Since then, the former Reims player has scored four goals in five matches, he who opened the scoring against Sco on Wednesday (2-0)from the fifth minute of play. A gesture full of serenity. “I have absolute confidence in myself”, he said after his first goal. However, he doubted, turned, and had to fight to get back in the game. It’s done. Not enough to challenge the predominance of the “MNM”, but enough to represent a real option off the bench and give the change when one of the three front stars is not there, Kylian Mbappé for this match. His 37th minute slalom, mystifying four players before blocking on the fourth, is the kind of action he would never have attempted a handful of weeks ago. A good omen for the future, in the short, medium and long term. “I play, I have confidence, I score, I chain», jubilates Hugo Ekitike as a summary of his evening.

Read alsoThe notes of PSG-Angers: Messi treats, Ekitike and Mukiele follow one another, Neymar draft

Messi’s sweets

If he was not celebrated for his coronation at the World Cup (see elsewhere), Leo Messi had every intention of entertaining the crowd and his teammates with the ball. Not a great match for the Pulga, especially when you remember his level of performance in Qatar, but a good match, during which he delivered many beautiful and good balls for his comrades. Finally, he himself took charge of making the break in the second half, after checking the Var. He is also involved in the first Parisian goal in this part. If we talk about sweets, Neymar has also distilled some, especially from outside the law. The Brazilian, however, was much more messy than his former partner from FC Barcelona.

Mukiele, better than a double

Nordi Mukiele is fine, thank you for him. Due to the absence of Achraf Hakimi, the French international has the opportunity to continue in the starting 11. Opportunity he seizes to gain momentum. Wednesday, he is to be credited with two assists, it is however not his specialty at the base. “In this organization (three-man defense, editor’s note), we need to have very high, very aggressive pistons that bring added value on an offensive level. In that sense, he’s been fine for a while.“, underlines Galtier, who sees in the former player of Leipzig”more than a lining“. The return of Hakimi should, however, send him back to his condition as a replacement… of luxury.

CLAW STRIKES

Nothing for Messi

As indicated The Parisian Tuesday, PSG have nothing planned to celebrate the world coronation of Leo Messi. Absent during the first three matches of the capital club post-World Cup, the 35-year-old Argentinian was celebrated at Camp des Loges, among his teammates and staff. “There is neither the need nor the demand for Leo to be celebrated,”said Christophe Galtier in recent days. “I dare to hope that it will be celebrated and celebrated by our supporters at the Parc des Princes. There’s no reason not to.”, added the Parisian coach. Finally, the Pulga was only entitled to warm applause when the starting line-up was announced. The supporters, however, had no more planned to celebrate the coronation of number 30 than the leaders. “It’s his big return to the Parc des Princes”, simply underlined Michel Montana, the announcer of the Rouge et Bleu. Formula reused after its purpose, before a handful of “Messi, Messi, Messi” from Boulogne. Messi who did not go to greet the public after the match, he who returned to the locker room at the final whistle, as is (very) often the case.

Angers, simple stooge

Admittedly, the Angevins raised their voices in the second half. They were also not far from equalizing, against a Paris Saint-Germain at a trot. The red lantern, however, did not show much on the Parisian meadow. And again, the addition could have been more salty without a few parries from Paul Bernardoni or if Neymar had left a quarter of a second earlier on this incredible goal refused for an offside position at the end of the game, on a magnificent ladle of Messi by the way. This is the tenth defeat in a row for the last in the classification of the French championship. “We didn’t do much tonight, I found us on detention… We didn’t play, we didn’t play the match we would have liked to play. Now we have five very important matches coming up“Said Bernardoni at the microphone of Canal +. Matches against direct competitors (Clermont, Brest, Ajaccio, Lorient, Auxerre) not to be missed.

Read alsoLigue 1: without shining, PSG overcomes the red lantern Angers

Little PSG

Let’s be clear: we didn’t really enjoy ourselves on Wednesday evening. PSG did not force his talent. “In the game, everything was not perfect, far from it, but it is also linked to the post-World Cup, believe me, it is difficult and I congratulate the players», emphasizes Galtier. We can also remember that Paris was deprived of many major players (Mbappé, Verratti, Hakimi, Mendes, Kimpembe…). Nevertheless, the Parisian autumn champions did not really want to hurt themselves and “kill” their opponents from Angevin. Clearly, it will be necessary to raise the level to hope to get by against Bayern Munich, in C1 …