PSG, without Kylian Mbappé, in conflict with his management and dismissed, nor Neymar, victim of a viral syndrome during the week and perhaps on the way out, was held in check by Lorient (0-0), Saturday at the Parc des Princes during coach Luis Enrique’s first Ligue 1 outing.
We can’t do without Mbappé, the top scorer in the club’s history. By depriving itself of such an offensive weapon, Paris could expect to pay a high price and there were no surprises in this regard against the Hakes.
The showdown between Mbappé, who wants to stay until the end of his contract in 2024 without extending it, and PSG has therefore had unfortunate consequences. The French star, not selected for the match, was present in the stands, all smiles alongside the latest recruit, Ousmane Dembélé. But his shadow hovered over the lawn of the Parisian enclosure.
For his big debut on the PSG bench, new coach Luis Enrique was able to get a glimpse of what awaits him at least until the end of the month and the end of the transfer period. In the absence of Mbappé, the Parisian game is not the same and the team suddenly becomes very ordinary.
By starting six players who landed in the capital this summer, Luis Enrique wanted to mark the occasion and impose his ideas. This new-look PSG has followed the precepts of the Iberian technician, adept at possession of the ball, sometimes to the point of overdose as his Spanish selection had sadly demonstrated during the World Cup-2022 by being picked up by Morocco in 8th of final. He precisely lacked the speed and percussion to worry Lorient, most of the time curled up in his own half of the field.
There were thus very few opportunities to get their teeth into for the Parisians. The new Portuguese center-forward Gonzalo Ramos was quite discreet in front of goal, only very rarely managing to get into a striking position, except at the start of the match (8th) and in the final quarter of an hour (78th).
South Korean Lee Kang-in also had a great opportunity after the break but he completely missed his recovery (47th), like his match where he was valiant but inefficient. It was then the turn of Fabian Ruiz to see his shot repelled at close range by Lorient goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo (77th).
By dint of stumbling on the Breton defense, Paris could even have been surprised in return, Laurent Abergel having found the post of Gianluigi Donnarumma at the end of the first period by recovering a ball after a bad pass from Milan Skriniar to Vitinha (41st ). This month of August is likely to be very long for PSG, pending the outcome of the Mbappé soap opera.
