The Morning After: Paris Saint-Germain Comes Up Short Against AC Milan
PSG suffered another road defeat in the Champions League and now have no margin for error if they hope to advance to the knockout stage.
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Paris Saint-Germain’s trip to Italy couldn’t have gone any worse.
First, there was a PSG supporter who was reportedly stabbed in the leg allegedly by an AC Milan supporter. Then, Gianluigi Donnarumma was showered in fake money, dubbed “Dollarummas,” and, of course, there’s the 2-1 defeat that sets up an intense final two matches in Group F of the UEFA Champions League if the reigning French champions hope to advance to the knockout stage.
Awful officiating
In analyzing last night’s match, I want to start with those “Dollarummas,” which sounds ridiculous, but it highlights what I thought was an abysmal performance from the head official, Jesús Gil Manzano.
AC Milan supporters are understandably upset with the nature of Donnarumma’s departure in 2021, and I can’t fault them for wanting to make things uncomfortable in his return. I have no issue with the “Dollarummas,” but the antic crossed the line when supporters threw them on the pitch. Donnarumma’s goal area was littered with fake money. Not just one or two bills, but several dozens at least, and could have caused the PSG goalkeeper to slip.
It’s also important to note that these weren’t just paper money, but the AC Milan supporters wrapped the bills tightly to form projectiles they could aim at Donnarumma. So, as the Italy international is concentrating on saving a free kick from close range, his back is to thousands of people with wadded-up bills aiming for his head. The trash was landing around Donnarumma as the game was played and the referee should have stepped in to do something but chose not to. Let’s get the official now.
Jesús Gil Manzano isn’t the reason PSG lost this match, nor are the “Dollarummas,” but the fact that AC Milan didn’t pick up their first foul and subsequent yellow card until the 66th minute is highly suspect. Keep in mind that this is a team that committed 11 fouls and received four yellow cards at the Parc des Princes on October 25. All of a sudden, with their Champions League lives on the line, they figured out how to play perfect football? I highly doubt it.
PSG outplayed
That’s not why PSG lost this match. Despite the lack of foul calls and distractions, Luis Enrique’s side was outplayed. They had no answer for the pace of Rafael Leão, who scored an acrobatic bicycle kick as Marquinhos shielded the view of Donnarumma instead of stepping up. Milan Škriniar, who scored PSG’s only goal off a corner, also gave up a goal when, instead of jumping to clear a cross, he stood idly by as Olivier Giroud climbed up his back and headed home the game-winning goal for AC Milan. I should also add that the Giroud goal was questionable, considering the foul on Achraf Hakimi prior to the cross, but I digress…
PSG’s French attack, consisting of Kylian Mbappé, Randal Kolo Muani, and Ousmane Dembélé failed to put AC Milan’s defense under any kind of sustained pressure. Mbappé was double and sometimes triple-teamed, and when he did find an opening, like the one in the first half when he went one-on-one with Mike Maignan, he completely missed the goal. In fact, PSG had several opportunities to score and hit the crossbar. It was one of those nights where nothing went PSG’s way.
There’s no need to panic, however. Playing at the San Siro is a difficult ask and it’s not like PSG were run out of the stadium like they were at St. James’ Park. If PSG get a few calls and the ball bounces the other way, we’re talking about a draw or better, so let’s look forward.
What’s next and potential changes
PSG faces a difficult November schedule, with domestic matches against Stade de Reims and AS Monaco before hosting Newcastle United F.C on the 28th in what I think is a must-win match for PSG. If they can do that, they’ll be on nine points in Group F and will go into the final matchday, away at Borussia Dortmund, a little more manageable.
In terms of changes I would like to see in the squad. I think Kang-In Lee has earned a place in the starting lineup. I would replace Vitinhia with the South Korea international and see how his offensive ability changes a match. I’d also like to see more of Bradley Barcola, even if that means sending Dembélé to the bench where he can regroup and try to shrug off the criticism that he hasn’t scored since arriving at PSG.
Other potential changes could include replacing Kolo Muani with Gonçalo Ramos, who is more of a typical striker, and Luis Enrique has to figure out what to do with teams who sit in a low block and defend. We see it all the time in Ligue 1 and AC Milan did it late in the match as PSG pushed for a goal. Maybe that means moving Mbappé more centrally to open up options when he’s surrounded by defenders. Or, maybe it means signing a creative midfielder in January who can unlock defenses.
Time will tell, but for now, PSG has to regroup and focus on the upcoming stretch of matches that could very well determine the success of its season.