Wishing you a joyful Christmas, Luis Enrique. The situation was quite tense for some time as his team, Paris Saint-Germain, was on the verge of a humiliating group-stage defeat in the only tournament that truly holds significance for them. Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle were both leading, and despite their determination and effort, the French champions were struggling to keep their coach from facing a disastrous outcome.
However, as the humorous puns were starting to come naturally, Paris was rescued from a former mistake by their current and future potential. Kylian Mbappé assisted in the tying goal for the dynamic 17-year-old midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery. Despite the tense final minutes due to Milan’s late goal in Tyneside, Luis Enrique’s team advanced based on their direct competition record.
Disaster avoided. Everyone let out a sigh of relief. Despite being a young, nervous, and unpredictable team, there were glimpses of hope in the midst of a pleasantly unpredictable and often chaotic group stage.
Luis Enrique stated that his team consists of 11 new players, new staff, and a new campus. He did not apologize for instructing his players to maintain possession of the ball in the final moments of the game, as a draw would be enough. He has been coaching at the highest level for 12 years and believes that all of his teams have shown improvement over time. He anticipates that his team will reach their potential by February.
The interesting thing is that several traditional criticisms of Paris are no longer relevant in the time after Messi and Neymar. Under Luis Enrique’s leadership since joining in the summer, the club has developed a clear and well-articulated vision. This is not a team focused on indulging in extravagant stars or being a flashy TV show, but rather a modern and dynamic unit that prioritizes youth, speed, movement, and enjoyment. They no longer rely on only eight players to defend. With Lee Kang-in, Vitinha, and Zaïre-Emery, they possess one of the most exciting midfield groups in all of Europe, with energy, agility, a killer instinct, and an average age under 21.
Despite some underlying flaws, occasional mistakes, and a lack of unity, Luis Enrique’s team would have been considered unlucky to be eliminated here. This was due to their wastefulness in scoring and being placed in a difficult group, rather than any major issues with their overall structure. While a team with such abundant resources should never settle for just qualifying, there are indications of improvement and vitality. It seems that their dependence on Hollywood glamour is being replaced by a more genuine and thrilling style.
No one embodies the essence of newness quite like Zaïre-Emery. Hailing from Romainville, a suburb of Paris just a few bus stops away from Bondy where his teammates Mbappé and Randal Kolo Muani also grew up, Zaïre-Emery is a rare player who appears to have arrived in the professional game fully developed and equipped with all the necessary skills. He excels in both defending and attacking, and in the second half of the game, he not only scored a goal but also controlled the pace of the game by shutting down Salih Ozcan in the Dortmund midfield, making precise passes with both feet, and making quick runs into open spaces with the eagerness and energy of youth.
In contrast, Dortmund displayed a lack of efficiency. This is a consistent issue for the team. Even during a dominant 5-0 victory, Dortmund still appear to be wasteful. However, this can also be seen as a testament to their energy and creativity. They relentlessly press and pursue lost causes, often creating opportunities out of thin air. Despite their inconsistent performances in the Bundesliga, there is something about this particular competition that ignites a fierce determination in them. Despite already securing qualification, Dortmund attacked Paris with ferocity, taking an early lead through Karim Adeyemi and squandering multiple other promising chances.
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Niklas Süle’s impressive clearance off the line in the first half played a major role in their initial lead. It even caused Mbappé to do a double-take, as he had already outmaneuvered the goalkeeper and was ready to celebrate.
During the first half, Bradley Barcola and Kolo Muani had opportunities to score, but Mats Hummels failed to score a simple header right before halftime. At this point, Newcastle was in the lead. Adeyemi then scored for Paris after Achraf Hakimi made a mistake, adding a sense of frantic urgency to their task.
Luckily, Paris has some of the most intensely driven soccer players in the world. Mbappé, who was a constant threat throughout the game, was responsible for creating the opportunity. He made a strong run down the left side, leaving a nervous Marius Wolf behind, and passed the ball to Barcola. Barcola’s clever touch was then blasted into the net by Zaïre‑Emery from 18 yards.
Other opportunities arose in the game, such as Mbappé’s goal being invalidated for being offside and a promising chance for Marco Reus towards the end that could have secured Paris’s spot in the Europa League. However, once the dust settled, it was apparent that Luis Enrique and his team had barely met the requirements for success: bringing some solace, if not complete satisfaction.
Source: theguardian.com
