It is 10:55 p.m. this Wednesday, December 13, when Swede Glenn Nyberg whistles the end of the match between Borussia Dortmund (BVB) and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The two teams have just completed their group stage of this 2023-2024 edition of the Champions League with a draw (1-1). Supporters at Signal Iduna Park are exultant. Its “yellow wall” trembles. This result allows BVB to take first place in the group.
Massed in the stadium’s visitor park, the approximately 4,000 PSG fans who traveled to Germany nevertheless celebrated this epilogue as if it were a victory. The capital club will participate in the round of 16 of the prestigious European competition, for the twelfth year in a row. This was far from certain. And, at this precise moment, what does it matter if he owes his qualification to the victory of AC Milan on the Newcastle lawn (1-2).
Only a success in the Ruhr guaranteed the Parisians to validate their ticket for the rest of the tournament; in the event of a draw or defeat, their fate depended on the outcome of the match between the English and the Italians. The initial objective of the evening was therefore to win and, at the same time, take the lead in Group F, coach Luis Enrique admitted at a press conference.
But the Spanish technician, who had pleaded before this final duel for more “positivity”remained faithful to his line: “in a group of this difficulty, finishing second is good”. This Wednesday, his troops did not go far from an early exit. At half-time, while the scoreboard at Signal Iduna Park still showed 0-0, they were even virtually eliminated, because, at the same time, the Magpies were leading against the Rossoneri and ahead of them in the standings.
Warren Zaire-Emery, the providential man
According to him, the coach did not have his eyes fixed on what was happening at St James’ Park. No question of falling into the trap of a fight at a distance… At least, until 84e minute of the match, when the Lombards took the advantage over their hosts. There, Luis Enrique asked his team to slow down, inviting them to secure the parity score.
A strategic choice that Kylian Mbappé obviously had little taste for. The PSG star striker did not hide his bitterness at seeing his team favor the lesser evil. “It’s normal for the players to be frustrated, we had five chances to score, five real chances! conceded the coach. But we would be a little stupid to take the risk of conceding a goal in the 85the minute. »
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