PSG winless in three after draw against Troyes

It was another half-hearted Paris Saint-Germain showing at Parc des Princes, as the champions-elect drew for the third consecutive match with a 2-2 result against Troyes.

PSG’s end-of-season performances have been characterised by an apparent desire to get the campaign over and done with. From fan protests, to the players’ futures and the pressure on Mauricio Pochettino, the prevailing mood at the club is anything but one of celebration for its 10th league title.

The hosts had started brightly, though. Marquinhos opened the scoring early on after being found at the back post by Ángel Di María – the Argentine’s curled ball finding his captain, who deftly took it round the keep to score into an empty net.

The visitors then began to settle into the game and looked dangerous on the counter attack, before a 25th minute penalty scored by Neymar doubled the hosts’ lead after a foul on Mbappé.

Troyes’ persistence was soon rewarded, though, as Iké Ugbo latched onto a stray Nuno Mendes backpass, finding himself one-on-one with Keylor Navas and powering it into the far corner to pull one back.

Florian Tardieu levelled the scores up straight after the break, converting a penalty conceded by Presnel Kimpembe through a panenka – scoring his third spot-kick in a week, following on from his double against Lille.

Neymar thought he had given his side the lead again, scoring his double and his 100th goal for the club,  before a VAR decision ruled the goal out, with Kylian Mbappé pushing away his defender in the build-up.

The rest of the second half largely followed the same pattern – PSG lacklustre in possession but crafting the occasional half-chance, and Troyes lightning-fast on the break but unable to make anything of their opportunities. 

A final chance came through the otherwise largely absent Lionel Messi, who hit the bar with a long-range shot. ESTAC would hold their ground all the way to full-time, though, at which point the PSG team would be treated to a loud round of booing from fans.

The result lifts PSG up to the 80-point mark, while Troyes are now one step closer to ensuring survival with a 6-point lead over Saint-Étienne in 18th. Les Verts nevertheless have a match in hand against Nice in midweek.

 

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Neymar on relations with PSG fans: “Nobody likes being booed, it is boring, it is sad.”

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Speaking on Instagram Live with ex-Brazil national team colleague Diego Ribas, PSG attacker Neymar discussed his relationship with the Les Parisiens fans.

“Nobody likes to be booed, even less so at home. It is boring, it is sad. This has happened to me at PSG, in the national team and I am sad. I was not comfortable, but I have to find the strength from somewhere. I am reminded by my childhood, the people who helped me. I think about playing for them who really support me, not for the people who boo me. I know that my soon truly supports me, not those who boo me. I know that my son supports me, just like my family.”

“My biggest dream this year is the World Cup. I really wanted to win the Champions’ League with PSG. But it is a dream that has been delayed. But I hope that 2022 will finish with the World Cup. I am preparing physically and mentally for that cup to be Brazilian. I am going to give my life. I am preparing so much.”

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Lille’s Jocelyn Gourvennec on fan hostility: “It feels like we’ve gone down to Ligue 2.”

Speaking in the wake of his Lille team’s latest loss, to Monaco last night, Jocelyn Gourvennec lamented the hostile attitude of Les Dogues fans towards their own team and in particular towards their manager.

His words transcribed in L’Équipe, the coach reacted to being booed both in the build-up and during the match, with the ultras also chanting for his dismissal.

“We ended the match in an atmosphere which obviously wasn’t pleasant. It’s a shame, it doesn’t reflect our season. It feels like we’ve gone down to Ligue 2, that we haven’t done anything. But we’ve done some great things.”

“We’ve also had some misses. It’s disappointing because we don’t deserve it. When you’re not Paris [PSG], you have to appreciate the titles that come your way [Lille winning the Trophée des Champions in August].”

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Bordeaux’s David Guion: “We do not deserve to be in Ligue 1.”

Speaking in the wake of his team’s goalless draw to Lorient, which virtually confirmed their relegation, Bordeaux manager David Guion gave a frank assessment of Les Girondins’ season.

The coach, who arrived midway through the season and has only won once, recognised that the team deserved the criticism, after an evening of fan protests at the management, players, and ownership.

“It’s a failure, a sad night. It’s been a very, very, difficult season. Obviously my thoughts go to those who love Les Girondins, to those who work on a daily basis to put this team in good conditions, and for our supporters.”

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“The season has been so bad… we deserve the criticism and what’s happening to us. Over the whole season, Les Girondins do not deserve to be in Ligue 1.”

Bordeaux may have to sell leading prospect Sékou Mara if they’re relegated to Ligue 2

As reported by France Bleu, Ligue 1 strugglers Bordeaux may have to sell young striker Sékou Mara if they’re relegated to Ligue 2 this season.

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The emergence of Mara has been one of very few bright spots this season for Les Girondins who sit bottom of Ligue 1 with just two games to play. The 19-year-old forward has managed four goals in 723 league minutes this season, largely as a substitute.

However, the player is being monitored by several other Ligue 1 sides, say the outlet, any one of which could soon make an offer a relegated Bordeaux couldn’t refuse given their already tight finances as Ligue 1’s fourth-biggest loss-making club last season, according to the DNCG.

Mara recently extended his deal with Bordeaux to 2025 but the club will have to do a lot to convince him to stay put for next season should they drop down to Ligue 2.

PSG Féminines set to sign Lieke Martens from Barcelona

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Le Parisien report that Paris Saint-Germain Féminines are set to sign Dutch wide midfielder Lieke Martens from Barcelona.

The 29-year-old has reached an agreement with PSG for her arrival, a year after scoring a double against the team in the Champions League semi-finals, at the Camp Nou.

The Dutch international, who notably won the 2017 Euros with her country, has been with Barcelona since that same year. She has now won her third straight league title with the Catalans, and came fifth in last year’s Ballon d’Or ranking, having being named FIFA player of the year in 2017.

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PSG are looking to reinforce the squad this summer in the face of several departures (Sara Däbritz, Luana, Léa Khelifi), while striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto is waiting for guarantees from the club before extending her contract.

 

Real Madrid are telling those around the club Kylian Mbappé will be joining

As reported by Le Parisien, Real Madrid are telling those both inside and outside the club that PSG striker Kylian Mbappé will indeed join the Spanish side at the end of this season on a free transfer.

Madrid, say the Paris paper, seem increasingly confident that the 23-year-old will decide to move to La Liga this summer and the club’s hiercahy have been informing those at the Bernabéu as well as actors in the transfer market that the Frenchman is on his way.  

Although Real have no doubt over the move’s completion, Le Parisien say that the situation remains delicate and no contract has been signed with either PSG or Madrid. Last week, the player and Paris agreed in principle over a two-year contract extension in which Mbappé would receive a €100m signing bonus and earn €50m a year net.

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Peter Bosz confident on his Lyon future

L’Équipe report today that despite a first season in charge that has failed to live up to expectations, Peter Bosz intends to remain at Lyon heading into next season.

Although club president Jean-Michel Aulas had previously stated that the Dutchman’s future was not in doubt, his latest comments have indicated that the decision would ultimately have to go through the eventual new shareholders of the club.

With the club lying in midtable and having gone through scandals both within the playing squad and the upper management, Bosz has nevertheless maintained good relations with those at the club, who appreciate his playing style. However, the results have been far from satisfactory.

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The manager has remained optimistic, having pointed to Aulas’ previous comments and said that he has “something to prove” next year. He has explained that he holds regular meetings with the club’s management on the future of the team, and spoken of the need to learn from this season’s mistakes.

In any case, Strasbourg manager Julien Stéphan is the first choice should Bosz leave, while Christophe Galtier, who was favourite to join last summer, could also be linked.

Lyon in talks for Turkey international winger Kerem Aktürkoglu

As reported by BUT, Lyon have entered negotiations with Galatasaray over the signing of their Turkish international winger Kerem Aktürkoglu.

However, the 23-year-old’s contract runs until 2026 and Lyon remain well short of Galatasaray’s valuation of the player but are looking to position themselves ahead of the competition having watched the player several times in person this season.

To secure the forward’s signature, Lyon will have to push hard, say the outlet, with clubs from England and Spain both also interested but talks are ongoing with the Ligue 1 club.

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Christophe Galtier laments Nice fans’ chanting on Emiliano Sala

Speaking after his team’s 4-2 win over Saint-Étienne tonight, Nice manager Christophe Galtier notably reacted to the fans’ offensive chants about the death of Emiliano Sala, days after the Coupe de France final against Nantes.

His words transcribed in L’Équipe, the coach lamented the shocking chanting and pointed out that those fans were not welcome at the Allianz Riviera.

“I have no words to describe what I heard. One of the first reactions in the dressing room was not chanting or cries of joy, or relief. It was to speak about what the players had heard. In the name of my dressing room, of my technical and medical staff, from the players, we would like to offer our apologies to Emiliano Sala’s family and to FC Nantes.”

“You hear a lot of things in stadiums, but these people – and there weren’t just three of them – if they’re not happy, they can come to the training ground and I’ll say the same thing to them. We often say that what we see in stadiums is a reflection of society. If that’s what our society is, we are really in the sh*t! There were also insults towards Mrs [Stéphanie] Frappart. She’s not the one that made us lose the final. It’s surreal for me. I have no words. They need to stay at home. You cannot hear that in a stadium. If they’re coming to insult the dead, then they can stay at home!”

 

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