PSG
PSG’s 4-1 loss to Newcastle shows them to be the worst team in years: Luis Enrique heavily criticised
The defeat to Newcastle in the Champions League highlighted serious problems in Luis Enrique’s system, as well the attitude of some of the players.
Newcastle United made history as they beat PSG 4-1 at St. James’ park in the UEFA Champions League group stages, prompting heavy criticism for the manager of the French side. Destiny always had it that Luis Enrique be at the front line of both of PSG’s heaviest defeats in the Champions League: first, it was the 6-1 against Barcelona, which he won, and now he is part of a 4-1 thrashing - just on the wrong side of the divide.
For the record, the third-worst defeat in Champions League history for PSG came against Chelsea: a 3-0 drubbing in 2003 (which he did not take part in).
The debacle was defined by Luis Enrique as “a loss of little importance”, but the scoreline remains a black mark on the French club’s history and especially in a tournament that has constantly given the side nightmares over the past decade.
When did PSG last lose in the group stage of the Champions League?
Newcastle, who trolled PSG after the win, were superior in every way: they dominated all aspects of the game and exposed the weaknesses in the French defence; PSG may still be a project under construction but time is not going to slow down in order for them to get things right eventually. The 4-1 against the Magpies is the first group stage game that PSG have lost since November 2021, when they fell 2-1 to Manchester City at the Etihad. And it keeps coming: the defeat is the second-worst since Qatar took control of the club back in the 2016/16 season.
One has to flash back to February 2020 for the last time PSG conceded four goals in a single game. On that occasion, with Ligue 1 practically sealed, Amiens managed to storm into a 4-0 lead before half-time, but the game finished 4-4 after a dramatic turnaround. The club, given already discussed, are going through their worst start to a season since the Qataris joined the show; despite the heavy investment now synonymous with the club, the cogs have still not been able to turn smoothly and Luis Enrique’s ideas have not been played out on the pitch.
Luis Enrique says PSG ‘didn’t deserve’ to lose 4-1
The Spanish coach has asked for time, showing himself to be confident of his work in the post-match press conference: “[We] didn’t deserve the result”, he said after the game, as well as commenting that he “maintains confidence in the players”.
On Sunday, PSG travel to Rennes, and a ground where they have lost their last 2 games. This will be a crucial match for Luis Enrique to remove any doubts about his ability to get things moving, as well as quieten the heavy criticism that has been fired his way over the past 24 hours.
France’s media goes in heavy on PSG and Luis Enrique
Speaking of the critics, the media in France has expressed their shock at the result and their dismay at the state of the team. Daniel Riolo, a journalist for RMC Sport in Paris, said that “nobody imagined this could happen again. What team plays like this in the whole of Europe? This system is terrible, it’s rubbish. Nobody plays like this. He tells us all to shut up saying ‘I’m right, because I’m a genius’. I can’t stand misunderstood geniuses.”
Newspaper L’Équipe, who gave Luis Enrique a 3/10, was also skeptical about the tactics that he used at St. James’ Park, saying that “the most surprising thing about Luis Enrique is that he didn’t change anything despite the huge problems his team were having in the middle of the pitch.”
Le Parisien, the media outlet that is closest to the club, called Luis Enrique “the main man responsible for the European fiasco” and that “PSG didn’t do anything, they didn’t achieve anything and suffered during the whole match. Luis Enrique persisted with his idea, taking off Ugarte for Vitinha despite the fact that his system plays with three midfielders.” Finally, ex-England defender Rio Ferdinand said that “tactically you have to do better... if you don’t you’ll be punished, especially in a stadium like this. The way he took on the game, with a 4-2-4, they were weak in the midfield.”
