“Is PSG building the greatest European dynasty? » This is the question posed BBC Sport following the victory (4-2) of Paris Saint-Germain, Wednesday evening, on the pitch of Manchester City. Astonished by the level of play displayed by Luis Enrique’s men, the media from across the Channel went even further in its analysis this Thursday morning: “God help everyone”we could read. However, behind this prestigious success allowing the capital club to take the lead in the league phase of this 2026-2027 Champions League, certain tactical weaknesses remain to be corrected.
Defensive transitions to perfect
Because if PSG was able to gain the upper hand thanks to its intensity and the quality of its combinations, it also showed that it could lose control of a match when the opponent increased the pace. Three areas of progress can also be noted. The first concerns the management of defensive transitions. By seeking to quickly recover the ball and maintain a high defensive line, the Parisians sometimes expose themselves to rapid projections from their opponents, particularly when Achraf Hakimi is called upon to reinforce the midfield in certain sequences. Last night, at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City was able to take advantage of these spaces to put the Parisian defense under pressure, especially after the break.
To avoid these situations, PSG will therefore have to better coordinate their counter-pressing, provide cover behind the offensive players and above all reduce the distances between their lines in order to limit the exploitable spaces. The second axis concerns the regularity of pressing and control of rhythm. After imposing its intensity, PSG, in fact, experienced a more delicate period in the face of the Mancunian reaction. A drop in control highlighting the need to better manage weak times, without systematically trying to speed up the game. By retaining the ball more in moments of pressure and adjusting the height of its block according to the circumstances, Paris could ultimately preserve its energy while preventing the opponent from regaining confidence.
Managing weak times
“We remember a lot of positive things. We have more fun when we have a first period like that. The second period is normal. We are playing away against a fantastic team. What happens second is more real. What we did in the premiere was exceptional. We knew how to support each other. We were good together, that was important. A very difficult match, a lot of pride in this team. We proved that we were a great team”however preferred to note Vitinha, interviewed at the microphone of Canal+ at the final whistle. “ The first half showed what we want to do as a team. We were very superior. You think the match is won 3-0 at half-time, and we suffered in the second half. They deserved to score more goals. We could have lost in this match », even admitted Luis Enrique for his part.
Image generation in progress
Reactions confirming that the double European champion is not (yet) completely satisfied with the performance displayed. With this in mind, managing the score advantage undoubtedly represents the last challenge for the Parisians. Faced with a team capable of quickly coming back in a match, taking the advantage is not enough: you still have to know how to protect it without abandoning all offensive ambition. PSG must therefore still learn to close spaces, better control second balls and slow down the game when the situation requires it. Regardless, this victory demonstrates the extent of its potential, but it is its ability to combine offensive efficiency, defensive discipline and mastery of weak times that will allow it to take a new step on the European scene. If so, then yes “God help everyone”…
