Paris (France) (AFP) – After the imposing success against OM (5-0), PSG's season was launched, we thought, but the crushing defeat on Friday in Rennes (3-1) brought back doubts among Parisians struggling to continue and even give rise to a certain tension before the Champions League.
Published on: 02/14/2026 - 3:03 p.m.
This persistent irregularity raises questions, to the point of irritating certain executives, well aware of what this month of February can bring - when last year Paris SG had started its brilliant spring a little early - with a qualifying play-off for the round of 16 of the C1 on Tuesday in Monaco and pressure maintained by Lens in the fight for first place in Ligue 1.
“We are in the second part of the season, and it is Paris Saint-Germain which must be first, and not the individuals. We must play for the club instead of thinking about ourselves,” said Ousmane Dembélé, very annoyed, at the microphone of the Ligue 1+ broadcaster.
“If we play alone on the pitch, it’s not going to work, we’re not going to win the titles we want,” insisted the Ballon d’Or, determined to sound the alarm barely five days after trumpeting, in the euphoria of “classic” flashiness, that PSG was “back.”
Defensive excitement, arrhythmia in the middle, lost sights in attack... In Brittany, everything was united in the Parisian disunity Friday evening at Roazhon Park.
“These statements are worthless”
Matveï Safonov was not decisive on his line, it is true abandoned by the central hinge Willian Pacho/Illya Zabarnyi, late during the three goals conceded, not to mention the full-backs Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi also in difficulty.
The midfielder, usually dominant in duels, did not weigh. The attack, with its trio of holders Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, lacked ideas but not bad choices, a chronic problem this season in front of goal.
On Friday, Vitinha, like Dembélé, pointed out an excess of individualism: "Everyone wants to score, we talked about it often, there are times when you have to give the ball to the player who is best placed, that's what took us far last year".
Luis Enrique, on the other hand, did not want to respond to his attacker's comments, believing that post-match statements "are worthless" and are often said out of anger.
Internally, we assure that Dembélé was not targeting anyone in particular, explained two sources close to the squad, specifying that this was not a general observation but that it related to the poor performance of the evening.
According to one of these two sources, the Frenchman mentioned a lack of defensive withdrawals, a breakdown in pressure due to the loss of balls and bad inspirations in front of goal.
No heavy atmosphere
For Luis Enrique, this setback - the third in 2026 after the defeats against Paris FC in the Coupe de France (1-0) and Lisbon (2-1) in the Champions League - "is very easy to (explain): we created the same number of 'expected goals' (goals which should have been scored given the chances created, Editor's note) as against OM. But against OM we scored five goals and today only one".
However, if Paris does not quickly regain its usual offensive efficiency, it risks more than one additional disappointment, if it does not raise its level defensively either. As such, the Spanish coach must have once again realized that when he takes care of his captain Marquinhos, Willian Pacho does not display the same serenity and solidity with Illya Zabarnyi at his side.
“I am worried every day. Because I (always) want to improve (things) and I want a lot more from my players,” said Luis Enrique, who will expect nothing else from them than a champion reaction on Tuesday against Monaco, who have already beaten PSG this season in the championship.
In the locker room, however, the atmosphere was "not heavy", we assured internally on Friday evening.
And Vitinha wisely tempers: "We don't change from a top team, first in Europe, to a team that doubts in the space of a week."
© 2026 AFP
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