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PSG 1-2 MAN. CITY

Global media single out Keylor Navas after PSG defeat

Many observers and media outlets are pointing the finger at the The Costa Rican stopper as PSG saw Manchester City run out 1-2 winners in Paris.

Global media single out Keylor Navas after PSG defeat
Alex GrimmGetty Images

Manchester City took a big step towards their first Champions League final as goals by Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez earned them a 2-1 comeback win at Paris St Germain in the semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

Global media single out Keylor Navas after PSG defeat

PSG went ahead courtesy of a Marquinhos header in the first half, but Mauricio Pochettino's side lost control after the break with De Bruyne and Mahrez finding the back of the net in the space of eight minutes to secure City's 18th consecutive away win in all competitions.

Last year's runners-up PSG then found themselves with a higher mountain to climb as midfielder Idrissa Gueye picked up a straight red card in the 77th minute for a reckless challenge on Ilkay Gundogan.

The French champions will need to show next Tuesday the same away form that enabled them to beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou and Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in previous rounds if they are to progress.

Finger points at Navas

Keylor Navas has been one of PSG's heroes on their patch towards the semi-final stage of this year's Champions League but was under fire from many quarters after his display in the first leg at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Semi Final First Leg - Paris St Germain v Manchester City - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - April 28, 2021 Paris St Germain's Keylor Navas looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
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Soccer Football - Champions League - Semi Final First Leg - Paris St Germain v Manchester City - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - April 28, 2021 Paris St Germain's Keylor Navas looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Benoit TessierBENOIT TESSIERREUTERS

The Costa Rican totally misjudged the first City goal as a De Bruyne ball into the box ended up in the back of the PSG net with Navas slow to react. The keeper, once again many feel could have done better with the second City goal as Mahrez fired home. This is a snapshot of the reaction from quarters of the press after the game:

L'Equipe (France)

The player was awarded a 4/10 from the prestigious French sports outlet and claimed that Kaylor Navas demonstrated an alarming 'passivity' on the Kevin De Bruyne goal.

Le Parisien (France)

The loyal París Saint Germain daily also awarded the Costa Rican with a 4/10 (the poorest rating for any PSG player) and pointed the finger at Navas albeit stating that the goalkeeper was the hero for PSG in previous rounds of the competition.

Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy)

Italy's Gazzetta displayed possibly the harshest reaction of the major European outlets as they directly blamed the Costa Rican stopper for both goals claiming that Navas was at fault for the De Bruyne goal and that the stopper should have done better with the Mahrez free-kick.

The Guardian (UK)

The Guardian are more lenient on Navas and blame PSG as a collective for letting their advantage slip on the night and directly blame the wall for opening and allowing Mahrez to fire his free-kick into the gap that had opened in the wall.