- Title: PSG shines bright without stars, Zidane says Real lacked intensity
- Date: 18th September 2019
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 18, 2019) (REUTERS) PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN COACH THOMAS TUCHEL STEPPING OFF TEAM BUS IN PARC DES PRINCES STADIUM SECURITY AROUND STADIUM DEFENDER THIAGO SILVA STEPPING OFF BUS STADIUM DEFENDER PRESNEL KIMBEMPE AND OTHER PLAYERS STEPPING OFF BUS PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN COACH THOMAS TUCHEL IN NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN COACH THOMAS TUCHEL SAYING: "Everyone is thinking, 'Oh, he's missing three players, how can he win?' Maybe this helped, because everyone talks about the favourites - no Neymar, no Kylian (Mbappe), no Edi (Cavani). And maybe this helped, to not feel too much pressure." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN COACH THOMAS TUCHEL SAYING (IN RESPONSE TO QUESTION ABOUT IDRISSA GUEYE): "We fought a lot to buy this player (Idrissa Gueye). He's a machine. He doesn't stop. He doesn't stop running. He's gaining back the ball a lot of times, a lot. He won a lot of balls. Against a team like Real Madrid, it's really important. And I must say that today it was a good mix between the three - Marquinhos, Marco (Verratti) and him (Gueye). It was very very strong, with a lot of intensity." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN COACH THOMAS TUCHEL SAYING (IN JOKING WAY): "If someone asks me if we will win the Champions League, that's it. I leave the room." JOURNALISTS REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE TAKING SEAT FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE SAYING: "Yes, obviously, they were better than us in every way. They surpassed us in all aspects - in their play, in midfield. But above all, what bothers me is the lack of intensity. At this level of competition, it's problematic if we don't apply the same level of intensity. We started off well in the first 15 minutes. But towards halftime, they were better than us, it was problematic." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH ZINEDINE ZIDANE SAYING: "I don't like this statistic, the fact that we did not create opportunities - with the players we had on the field, offensive players in particular. It was a rather bizarre feeling, a bit weird. We were hardly in the match. It's not that I'm worried, but normally, with the players that we have, we are able to have more shots on goal." ZIDANE IN NEWS CONFERENCE ZIDANE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 2nd October 2019 23:45
- Keywords: Champions League Paris Saint-Germain Real Madrid PSG
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001AX6R3GF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: After three consecutive last-16 eliminations in the Champions League, Paris St. Germain were taking their impressive 3-0 victory over Real Madrid on Wednesday (September 18) with a large pinch of salt.
In their first Champions League game since Manchester United's shock 3-1 win in Paris knocked them out last season, PSG were brilliant against the Spanish side, but coach Thomas Tuchel knows only too well that they still have plenty to prove.
The United debacle followed a 5-2 aggregate defeat by Real Madrid in 2018 and a memorable loss to Barcelona in 2017 with a 6-1 defeat at the Camp Nou following a 4-0 home win.
Having spent over one billion euros on players since Qatar Sports Investment took over in 2011, PSG have been expected to win the Champions League but they have fallen spectacularly short in recent seasons.
Tuchel's side were outstanding against Real with Angel Di Maria scoring a double in the absence of the formidable trio of Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani - both injured - and the suspended Neymar.
Tuchel said the absence of their stars may have helped relieve the team of expectation and the pressure that comes with it.
PSG recruited during the close season, notably bringing in goalkeeper Keylor Navas from Real Madrid and striker Mauro Icardi on loan from Inter Milan.
But it was midfielder Idrissa Gueye, who joined from Everton, who caught the eye on Wednesday, setting up Di Maria for the second goal and working tirelessly.
On the Real Madrid side, coach Zinedine Zidane admitted his team were outclassed in all departments and said what worried him the most was his players' lack of intensity.
PSG lead the standings on three points, ahead of Club Brugge and Galatasaray, who played out a goalless draw earlier on Wednesday.
(Production: Noemie Olive, Michaela Cabrera) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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