At the Parc des Princes,
It could not be otherwise. After a more than mediocre match, where no team was really dangerous, the winner of this round of 16 of the Coupe de France between Parisians and Nice could only be named after a penalty shootout. And who says shots on goal says small conference of Yalta before the session in each team, near the benches, to designate the five attendants to present themselves facing the goal. You score, it’s normal. You miss, it’s the end of the world.
“On the first five players, we talked about it in the circle just before the penalty shootout,” said Mauricio Pochettino at a press conference. Are therefore chosen, in order: Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Leandro Paredes, Julian Draxler and Marco Verratti. Slogan: “Concentrated, all together”, proclaims Kimpembe in the circle. On the Nice side, it’s a little less organized: “Penalties belong to the players, I don’t impose anything, I don’t impose an order, I never push a player who doesn’t want to go to go there” , says Christophe Galtier, the Gym’s coach. Are therefore sent to the scaffold Morgan Schneiderlin, Jean-Clair Todibo, Youcef Atal, Andy Delort and Amine Gouiri are Side guards, we have Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG) and Marcin Bulka (ex-PSG), 1.96 m from side, 1.99 m from the other.
A real preparation for Bulka
On the first two shots on goal, those of Scheiderlin and Messi, for those who do not follow, we are in the classic: flat foot, safety, counter-foot. The Argentinian even performs this gesture with absolute nonchalance. In short, it’s inside, and that’s the main thing. Then comes the turn of Jean-Clair Todibo, chewing gum in his mouth, fixed gaze, a short run-up, which sends a praline right in the middle. Less strong, but just as effective, Mbappé’s attempt, unlike that failed against Switzerland, takes Bulka on the wrong foot.
After the successful shot of Youcef Atal, comes the turn of Leandro Paredes. The Argentinian, who has just returned from South America where he was in selection, sees his test stopped by Marcin Bulka. A firm hand, low to the ground, which offers a first advantage to Nice. “As much as the penalty shootout is not specially prepared by the shooters, as much for Marcin, there is real preparation, with his coach Nicolas Dehon, rejoiced Christophe Galtier. He has, for a long time, a lot of data, analyzes on shooters. He was able to transmit information to Marcin. »
“A special exercise”
Andy Delort then has the opportunity to put his people away, by converting the break point. But the former Montpellier stumbles on Donnarumma, who dives very well on his right, despite a supersonic shot. “It’s a special exercise, with Donnarumma taking up space, reacted Galtier. Andy who scores his penalties all the time, and there he was stopped. But I quickly told him that next time he’ll have to show up to shoot. »
The two teams tied, Draxler and Gouiri decided to make their supporters sweat by sending shots that passed under the belly of the two goalkeepers. Then Verratti does not miss his attempt. Result: sudden death. “We thought we could win after the first five shots, simply explained Mauricio Pochettino, still not very talkative. [Pour le choix], it was more by feeling and how they felt. »
Dante’s Inspiration
Nguessan and Bernat do not miss each other and can then admire Dante’s little gem. While we were all waiting for a balloon to take off in the Parisian sky, the Brazilian made us a sublime panenka which even surprised his coach. “The way to shoot, even if you make sure to give advice and benchmarks, it’s based on what the player feels,” says Galtier. I haven’t seen Dante take a penalty once, not even this week. »
After the experience of Dante (38 years old), comes the youth of Xavi Simons (18 years old), author, as often, of a very good start. “A very good boy”, according to “Galette”, who however missed his shot on goal and resulted in the elimination of PSG. But why on earth did this young boy shoot before experienced players like Kimpembe or Danilo? “It was not my choice,” soberly replied the Argentine coach.
🚨 PSG eliminated by Nice! On loan from … Paris, Marcin Bulka fends off Xavi Simons’ shot on goal and sends Nice to challenge OM in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France #PSGOGCN pic.twitter.com/9bGYcZDVLa
— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) January 31, 2022
“You have to look for all the possibilities to distract the player”
Helped by Nicolas Dehon, who indicated on the edge of the lawn the side on which he should dive, Bulka pulled off a good save against his former teammate. “Xavi, I know him and sometimes you have to look for all the possibilities to distract the player, said the Polish goalkeeper, on loan from PSG to Nice. Who just raised his arms before the Dutchman shot. I don’t know if that’s what made me make the save, but in the end he didn’t score. »
Not marked and leaving the field almost with tears in his eyes, Xavi Simons was consoled by Kimpembe. “Any player can miss, but we have absolute confidence in him,” reacted Pochettino. Penalties are a lottery. Anything can happen, like against Montpellier last season. “It was in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France, and PSG had managed to qualify. This time, Paris will not even see the quarters.