Mauricio Pochettino's Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is obliged to overcome the 1-2 achieved by Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on Tuesday, May 4, in the Champions League semi-final round, this past Wednesday at the Parc des Princes. Statistics say that since the 1970-71 season only 7 percent of teams defeated 1-2 in the first round of European competitions qualified. But despite this and despite the great form in which City is, the PSG fans do not lose faith that their team can reach the final in Istanbul.
Old Trafford, Camp Nou and Allianz Arena
In this edition of the Champions League, PSG beat Manchester United 1-3 at Old Trafford in the league, Barcelona at Camp Nou 1-4 in the round of 16 (1-1 in the second leg) and Bayern in the Allianz Arena 2-3 (0-1 for the Munich in Paris) in the quarterfinals. These three results achieved this course in large fields would classify Pochettino's if they were able to achieve one of them in the Etihad. “You have to have personality, if you don't believe it, you're not going there,” said captain Marquinhos, who scored the only Parisian goal against City, which he scored at Old Trafford in December.
The first part in the Park of the Princes
Pochettino himself believes that the good game of his PSG against City in the first half (in which Marquinhos advanced to the Gauls) supposes “a hope for the comeback, we know that we can face the game in the same way”. The first period encourages the Parisians and is a warning for the ‘citizens’. “Mauricio will watch the game and learn for the return,” said Pep Guardiola.
The desire of Neymar and Mbappé
And of all the PSG, of course. Not in vain, if he does not go back, he will not play his second Champions League final (and consecutive), which would be another opportunity to finally achieve the title that is his great pending issue (as for City). But also the two great PSG cracks, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, ended up very frustrated against Guardiola's. Without a doubt wishing that everything is different at the Etihad. They want to be in the final in Istanbul.
“We know that everything is not over,” were the words of Kevin de Bruyne, who scored the first goal for City in the Parc des Princes. It is what the PSG fans trust.