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"See Naples and die". This phrase attributed to the German poet Goethe, a tribute to the beauty of the Italian city, coach Thomas Tuchel had to consider in recent days in all directions. Before putting it back when composing his starting lineup. This Tuesday evening (21 hours), his team must indeed see Naples … and survive, implied in the Champions League. And it's not just a formula.
After the first three days of the pool phase concluded by a mixed record (an easy victory against Belgrade, a happy draw against Napoli and a defeat in Liverpool), the danger of elimination clearly stands out. Thiago Silva, the Paris captain, absent in the first leg at the Parc des Princes, was responsible for setting the scene. "A defeat there and I think it's almost over for us," slipped the Brazilian Friday night. Many things can be said about the defender, but not lack of lucidity.
At the foot of Vesuvius, PSG will play at the edge of a chasm. A new situation at this stage of the season, for a club subscribed for six consecutive years in the knockout stages of the Champions League. While the Paris team experienced this kind of vertigo in the fall of 2012, under the command of Ancelotti elsewhere, but it was another time and the ascension phase was just beginning.
"The most important thing is not to lose"
From now on, the PSG evolves in a sport and economic sphere where the crossing of the first round is perceived at the same time as a necessity and a vital minimum. Targeted by the big European clubs for its status of "club-state" at the hands of Qatar and protected by UEFA, as the first delivery of Football Leaks has revealed, the PSG can no longer afford to be donated Europa League, ie the second European division, next winter and spring.
In this context, Paris aims at the essential. Without boundless ambition. Gianluigi Buffon, now available after the end of his suspension in the Champions League, announces the color. "Winning would be a big thing but the most important thing is not to lose," says Gigi.
If a draw would have the merit of maintaining hope in the Paris camp, a setback in San Paolo would indeed start a start of disaster scenario. The power of attractiveness of the PSG, this combination between the real and supposed force that is attributed to the powerful, would decline illico. The world stars of this team, Neymar and Mbappé, not to mention them, would inevitably ask questions about their personal future in a club already scorched by the early eliminations against FC Barcelona and Real Madrid the past years. Even if the PSG will always be able to oppose them the duration of their contracts.
And those who are very soon free to engage elsewhere, we think in fact to Adrien Rabiot whose absolute holder status has eroded in recent days, may not hesitate for a long time before flying off.
Pressure on all floors
Finally, on an economic level, current and potential partners would no longer look at the Parisian tunic of the same eye. As if the showcase suddenly lacked brio. It would be boring at a time when the PSG is still trying to negotiate a very strong rise a new sponsor jersey. At a time when the wind of financial fair play is blowing again.
It puts pressure on the PSG, on all floors, including the one where President Nbader Al-Khelaïfi is evolving. The storm is not yet certain but everyone, really everyone, is preparing for the worst.
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