Tag: PSG

  • UCL Quarter final draw: Real Madrid vs Liverpool,  Bayern Munich Vs PSG

    UCL Quarter final draw: Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Bayern Munich Vs PSG

    The draw for the UEFA Champions League Quarter final has been revealed. 

    Holders Bayern Munich will face last year’s beaten finalists Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals of this season’s Champions League, while Friday’s draw for the last eight also threw up a clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid.

    The draw also pitted Premier League leaders Manchester City against Borussia Dortmund, with Chelsea set to play Porto in the other tie.

    Bayern defeated PSG 1-0 behind closed doors in Lisbon last August to win their sixth European Cup and remain the team to beat in Europe, having won 18 and drawn one of their 19 games in the Champions League since the beginning of last season.

    The first leg is set to be played in Germany on April 6 or 7, with the return in Paris a week later.

    Meanwhile, the meeting of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Real is another re-run of a recent final, with the Spaniards beating the Reds 3-1 in Kiev in 2018 to win the last of their record 13 titles to date.

  • Champions League: Griezmann subtly blames Messi for Barcelona’s defeat to PSG

    Champions League: Griezmann subtly blames Messi for Barcelona’s defeat to PSG

    Barcelona forward, Antoine Griezmann has partly blamed teammate Lionel Messi for the team’s exit from the Champions League on Wednesday night.

    While the first leg ended 4-1 in favour of Paris Saint-Germain in Camp Nou, the reverse fixture ended one goal apiece between the two sides.

    Barcelona could not make it beyond the last 16 of the competition joining another top side, Juventus who were knocked out by FC Porto earlier on Tuesday.

    Messi missed from the spot in the 45th minute of the game, a goal that would have turned things around for the visitors.

    And Griezmann believes that Messi’s missed spot kick and a couple of other wasted opportunities did not help the team’s course of upturning the result.

    The Frenchman told the press, “It’s a real shame, I’d say there were four clear-cut opportunities plus the penalty.

    “If you don’t put them away, it’s harder later in the game. Nevertheless, It was a completely different contest to the first leg.

    “In the end, it wasn’t to be but we gave it everything we had. It’s also true that [PSG goalkeeper, Navas] Keylor had a great game for them tonight – congratulations to him.”

  • JUST IN: Thomas Tuchel sacked by Paris Saint-Germain

    JUST IN: Thomas Tuchel sacked by Paris Saint-Germain

    PSG are currently third in Ligue 1, just a point behind leaders Lyon, and have lost only four of their 17 games in the league.

    Tuchel joined the club at the beginning of the 2018-19 season, winning back-to-back league titles as well as the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue in 2020.

    The 47-year-old was contracted until the end of the current campaign, having signed an extension last May.

    More to follow…

  • Tuchel clarifies controversial PSG comments that he claims weren’t translated correctly

    Tuchel clarifies controversial PSG comments that he claims weren’t translated correctly

    Thomas Tuchel enjoys the challenge of managing Paris Saint-Germain and insists he was mistranslated when suggesting the job is more about politics than coaching.

    PSG rounded off 2020 with a routine 4-0 win over Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on Wednesday through goals from Timothee Pembele, Kylian Mbappe, Idrissa Gueye and Moise Kean.

    A few hours ahead of the match, an interview with Tuchel was published by SPORT1 in which the German opened up on the demands of managing such a big club.

    The 47-year-old said it can be difficult keeping players such as Neymar and Mbappe happy, while also admitting he is “sad” his achievements are often played down.

    Tuchel was also quoted as saying he felt more like “a sports politician or sports minister than a coach” during his first season in the French capital.

    However, Tuchel attempted to clarify the comments when questioned in the aftermath of his side’s win against Strasbourg.

    “I didn’t say it’s more about politics than sport, nor that I lost the fun of training. This is not true,” he told Canal+. “It is possible they translated incorrectly.

    “Watch the video interview. I just said that PSG are unique and that it’s a big challenge for me. It’s always been like that. I like this challenge and nothing has changed.”

    Asked again about the interview at his post-match news conference, Tuchel added: “I gave a video interview to a journalist who told me to do a story about German coaches.

    “It is not an interview for him. It is not allowed. I was making a joke in German. The translation is not correct. We cannot translate word for word. It was a joke while we were talking and it is not allowed.”

    PSG enter the mid-season break sitting third in Ligue 1, one point behind Lyon and Lille following their victories over Nantes and Montpellier respectively.

    The reigning champions took the lead inside 18 minutes through Pembele but had to wait until 11 minutes from time for Mbappe to add a second from close range.

    Two more goals from substitutes Gueye and Kean followed late on in a game the home side bossed, seeing 69 per cent of the ball and managing eight shots on target to their opponents’ two.

    “It was a strong performance from us,” Tuchel said. “And this after a very demanding first half to the season. I’m very happy today because it was a win we deserved.

    “We were again missing a lot of players due to injury but were serious and disciplined with our play. That is a big compliment to the team.

    “Our ranking in the table is what it is, but we know why we’re here. It would have been more difficult to take if we didn’t know the reasons.

    “I am happy because the team has shown in the last two games we can play well.”

  • Kadewere reveals his Lyon dream after slaying PSG

    Kadewere reveals his Lyon dream after slaying PSG

    Tino Kadewere is focused on helping Lyon qualify for next season’s Champions League after he grabbed the match-winning goal in their 1-0 defeat of Paris Saint-Germain.

    The Zimbabwean striker linked up with Cameroon’s Karl Toko Ekambi to open the scoring for Rudi Garcia’s side in the 35th minute which later sealed a crucial away win in Paris.

    Kadewere has become a regular fixture for Lyon since his arrival from Ligue 2 club Le Havre in the summer with Sunday’s strike stretching his tally to five goals and an assist after 13 Ligue 1 appearances.

    Thanks to the first-half goal, Lyon overtook PSG in the league table as they climbed to second, level on 29 points with leaders Lille after 14 matches but Kadewere has his sights set on a bigger feat after ‘a great night’ at Parc des Princes.

    “It was a great night for the team, we did play well together,” Kadewere said. “I am happy to have given the victory to my team. We worked a lot this week to achieve this success.

    “The title? To be honest, I want us to qualify for the Champions League. It would be a dream. If we continue like this, working very hard, we have our chances of finishing first. It would be difficult. We never know.”

    Kadewere’s fifth goal made Lyon the only team to have three players score five or more goals in Europe’s top five leagues this season, after Toko Ekambi (seven goals) and Memphis Depay (six goals).

    Toko Ekambi, meanwhile, hailed the team’s overall performance to preserve their early lead.

    “We are very solid. It’s important to be able to keep a score. I feel at ease in this team. We get along very well upfront and it’s natural to serve Tino for the goal,” he added.

    Rudi Garcia’s side will hope to extend their five-game winning streak in the French top-flight when they host Brest for their next fixture on Wednesday.

  • UCL last 16 Draw: Barcelona tackle PSG, Liverpool land Leipzig, Chelsea face Atletico Madrid

    UCL last 16 Draw: Barcelona tackle PSG, Liverpool land Leipzig, Chelsea face Atletico Madrid

    Liverpool will take on RB Leipzig in the last-16 of the Champions League, Chelsea face Atletico Madrid and Lionel Messi’s Barcelona will take on Neymar and Paris Saint-Germain.

    Elsewhere, holders Bayern Munich have been drawn against Lazio, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus tackle Porto and Manchester City must overcome Borussia Monchengladbach.

    Sevilla’s meeting with Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid’s clash with Atalanta completes the fixture list for the first knockout round.

    Champions League last-16 draw in full:

    Borussia Monchengladbach vs Man City

    Lazio vs Bayern Munich

    Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea

    RB Leipzig vs Liverpool

    Porto vs Juventus

    Barcelona vs PSG

    Sevilla vs Borussia Dortmund

    Atalanta vs Real Madrid

  • Katoto moves past World Cup snub as she closes in on 100 PSG goals

    Katoto moves past World Cup snub as she closes in on 100 PSG goals

    Paris Saint-Germain Feminine striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto has insisted she’s moved beyond her surprise snub for France’s 2019 World Cup squad to focus on the present as she approaches 100 club goals after only just turning 22.

    Last summer, France head coach Corinne Diacre surprisingly left Katoto off her 23-player squad, despite the fact that the then-20-year-old was the French league’s top scorer with 22 goals.

    Diacre’s decision was not vindicated, as the hosts crashed out of the World Cup to eventual winners United States at the quarter-final stage. 

    Katoto, who finished 23rd in the Goal 50 2020, did not let the snub hinder her, however, and she continued excelling for PSG to the point where she has now reached 99 goals for her club. 

    As she approaches the 100-goal milestone, Katoto has said her mentality has been key to overcoming a difficult setback.

    “My situation with Les Bleus was not a big problem,” Katoto told Goal. “I always remained focused on my work. I listen a lot to my coaches. They are the first to help me for my development.”

    On her World Cup snub, she added: “It’s the past. Today I am looking ahead.”

    Katoto is now a regular in Diacre’s squad and has admitted that the current team will have failed should they not win a major trophy in the coming years.

    “Yes. It would be a failure,” Katoto said. “The French team is one of the greatest nations, among girls, mens or in our youth teams. We always have been part of the favourites, in every competition. We have to win something with the coming generation.”

    Katoto began her career as a defender but her transformation into one of the world’s top forwards was helped by studying videos of two of the best goalscorers of all time on the men’s side. 

    “I started as a defender but immediately I was attracted by the goal. That’s why I played higher up the pitch,” Katoto said. “I worked to know when to make my runs, when to shoot, and how.

    “I watched the best strikers on TV or on internet videos. I like R9 [Ronaldo] a lot for example, as I like Cristiano Ronaldo.”

    As she nears a milestone many strikers will never reach, let alone at the age of 22, Katoto expressed her happiness to be able to do so with her childhood club. 

    “It’s an incredible thing. Scoring 100 goals for your club is wonderful,” Katoto said. “I can’t dream of anything better than reaching this legendary step with Paris Saint-Germain.”

  • PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir walk-off will be ‘iconic’ moment in fight against racism – Mourinho

    PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir walk-off will be ‘iconic’ moment in fight against racism – Mourinho

    Jose Mourinho believes the Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir, postponed following allegations of racism, will be “iconic” in the fight against discrimination.

    Tuesday’s match at the Parc des Princes was stopped before the quarter-of-an-hour mark, with both sets of players gathering on the sidelines for more than 10 minutes.

    Basaksehir substitute Demba Ba was seen remonstrating with fourth official Sebastian Coltescu, before he and his team-mates were followed down the tunnel by their PSG counterparts.

    Soon after, Basaksehir’s official Twitter account alleged assistant coach Pierre Webo had been exposed to racist language by Coltescu, and following a delay of more than two hours the game was finally postponed.

    A UEFA statement confirmed the game was to resume on Wednesday at 6.55pm local time with a new team of officials in place, while an investigation into the incident has been launched.

    A host of players from across the world – including PSG stars Kylian Mbappe and Presnel Kimpembe – posted anti-racism messages to social media channels in response, and Mourinho feels the incident will be considered iconic as a result of the players making a united stand.

    “It’s a very sad situation,” Tottenham boss Mourinho said ahead of their Europa League visit of Royal Antwerp. “Every form of racism has to be fought. It should never be accepted. I’m very sad because we don’t want that in football.

    “I know the referee [Ovidiu Hategan] personally, not the fourth official. [Hategan is] a very good guy and very good referee.

    “To be involved, not directly, in a game that will become iconic is not a nice thing. The fourth official, only he can make his feelings clear. Of course, he made an unacceptable mistake.

    “Only he can open his heart and apologise. Everyone in football, we have our responsibilities and if we make mistakes, you accept your responsibility. That game will become iconic, a Champions League game stopped, but hopefully it will never happen again.”

    UEFA revealed on Wednesday that an inspector had been appointed to lead a probe into Tuesday’s events.

    PSG have already qualified for the Champions League last 16 despite the game not yet being completed, following Manchester United’s 3-2 defeat to RB Leipzig.

  • Fred posts Instagram message after sending off against PSG

    Fred posts Instagram message after sending off against PSG

    Fred has posted an Instagram message after his sending off against Paris Saint-Germain, admitting it “wasn’t the best night” for him or Manchester United.

    United suffered their second Champions League defeat of the season on Wednesday as PSG ran out 3-1 winners at Old Trafford to leave Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in a precarious position in Group H.

    The Red Devils are still top of the pool ahead of the French champions and RB Leipzig on goal difference, but they must now travel to Germany on matchday six knowing that a defeat will send them crashing out of the competition.

    A Neymar brace and a Marquinhos strike gave PSG their victory in Manchester, with Marcus Rashford’s deflected effort ultimately amounting to nothing more than a consolation for the hosts, who were reduced to 10 men when Fred was shown a second yellow card 20 minutes from time.

    The Brazilian’s first bookable offence came early in the first half, but he was somewhat fortunate not to be given his marching orders by referee Daniele Orsato for headbutting Leandro Paredes off the ball.

    He was walking a tightrope from that moment onwards, and although Solskjaer had five substitutions at his disposal on the touchline, the Norwegian head coach decided against hauling him off at half-time.

    Asked if made a mistake by keeping Fred on the field, Solskjaer told reporters post-match: “Fred has played really well. We spoke about staying calm and on your feet [at the break].

    “The second yellow card was nowhere near a foul. Ander knows that. Fred shouldn’t put his head towards Paredes [but] I don’t think he touched him. He was a bit lucky to stay on.”

    United will have to make do without Fred when they head to RB Leipzig next week, but the Brazil international did not offer any sort of apology when taking to social media to address his followers on Thursday.

    “It wasn’t the best night, but we kept working for the best. Always strong mind. We are United! #MUFC” he wrote on Instagram.

    Fred will, however, be back in contention for a place in Solskjaer’s line up when the Red Devils make the trip to the London Stadium to take on West Ham on Saturday.

    United are currently sitting ninth in the Premier League standings, but could move into the top four if they beat the Hammers and other results go their way this weekend.

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  • Spain boss Luis Enrique speaks on Ramos PSG transfer speculation

    Spain boss Luis Enrique speaks on Ramos PSG transfer speculation

    Sergio Ramos can handle talk over his future at Real Madrid and has not allowed his contract situation to affect him while playing for Spain, according to Luis Enrique. 

    Defender Ramos is in the final year of his deal with Madrid and negotiations between the two parties have reportedly stalled, leading to speculation he could be set to depart the Santiago Bernabeu. 

    Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with the 34-year-old, who pulled out of the scheduled national team news conference on Monday, Manchester City midfielder Rodri stepping in to replace his captain.

    READ ALSO: What Argentina boss told Messi after injury scare


    Ramos is preparing for Spain’s pivotal Nations League clash with Germany on Tuesday, a game they must win if they are to leapfrog their rivals and qualify for the finals of the tournament. 

    Head coach Luis Enrique has backed the centre-back to cope amid the growing pressure, something he has become accustomed to during his distinguished career for club and country. 

    “Everything that is generated around Ramos is neither new, nor old, nor is it anything,” the Spain boss told the media.  

    “It is what it is and what it means to have a player of this level. It is normal that there is pressure around and you have to live with that. 

    “If there is someone with enough experience to handle this personal situation it is Sergio Ramos.  

    “He is well prepared, and I see him the same as the first day we arrived at the national team, his enthusiasm, his leadership. His face does not change at all and this is part of the things that a footballer should know how to carry.”

    Spain were only able to draw 1-1 away in Switzerland last time out, not helped by the usually reliable Ramos missing two penalties. 

    Luis Enrique defended the player – who had scored his previous 25 attempts from the spot for club and country – in his post-match media conference, though it was again a topic of debate in Monday’s preview session for the game in Seville. 

    “I don’t know if Sergio Ramos is the best penalty taker in the world,” he replied when asked about Ramos’ spot-kick role.

    “What I did defending Sergio after the game is what any coach would do of course. You have to know how to accept both versions of the story and nothing happens.”

    Ramos has played the most number of games (16) during Luis Enrique’s time in charge, during which he is the leading scorer with nine goals.

    He is also top of the charts across the same period when it comes to shots attempted (37), passes attempted (1,328) and also duels won (64), showing his all-round value to the team.