Plenty of praise for Manchester City after the handsome 1-2 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final of the Champions League. In particular, the resilience that manager Pep Guardiola’s team showed in the second half garnered admiration in the English newspapers. Mitchel Bakker, somewhat surprisingly preferred over Abdou Diallo in the left back position, is spared in the French media despite the defeat. Neymar and Kylian Mbappé are a lot less well off.
The Guardian especially praises the way Manchester City dealt with the 1-0 deficit and the persistent pressure from PSG in the first half. “The biggest achievement is how Manchester City recovered after the break. The performance in the second half will remain in memory for a long time. PSG can be happy that it lost with only one goal difference. The impressive comeback of City is characterized by peace and tranquility. The team never lost confidence in its qualities, it was precisely PSG that lost its self-control. “
Mitchel Bakker’s reaction after the defeat against Manchester City
The Telegraph reflects on Riyah Mahrez’s winning goal from a free kick. “He rammed a wooden pin into the heart of the Parisian.” The English newspaper also reflects on the revival of Manchester City after the break. “They were much more positive and courageous in possession. PSG was hunted and therefore made mistakes.” The Independent thinks Guardiola is looking forward to the return duel with PSG with great confidence. “If they play as disciplined and dominant as in the second half, Manchester City will be in the Champions League final for the first time in history in Istanbul next month.”
The BBC saw how the star players of PSG were made completely harmless after the break. “The most discouraging for PSG was the way City dictated the second half. As a result, Mbappé and Neymar were completely out of the picture.” France Football is also very critical of Mbappé’s performance. “The striker did not give home during this crucial meeting for PSG. If he ever hit the ball, it rarely had a positive influence. It is frustrating to see the world champion excel against Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and then this kind of. “Mbappé has reacted more than once this season as a champion, he will have to do that again next week at the Etihad Stadium.”
The French newspapers are still mild on Mitchel Bakker.
L’Equipe hands out a 3 to the ‘completely absent’ Mbappé and bee The Guardian PSG’s attacker has to make do with a 5. The English newspaper also has a 5 in store for Bakker. “The Dutch left back was sometimes in charge of Riyad Mahrez, but the Algerian emerged victorious by showing his class after the break.” Mahrez, together with Kevin De Bruyne, received the highest score: an 8. L’Equipe is pessimistic about a place in the final of PSG due to the collapse of PSG. “It doesn’t happen often that a 1-2 defeat from the home game is made up in the return match. Of the last ten times in the Champions League, only Ajax succeeded, when the Amsterdam club won 1-4 against Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabéu. . “
With a rating of 5, the French newspaper is still mild for Bakker, especially since Neymar and Keylor Navas, for example, received a 4. Le Parisien the Dutchman did not seem out of place. “Mauricio Pochettino was rewarded for his surprising choice for Bakker as a left back.” Bakker is disappointed with the end result of PSG, especially after such a strong first half. “Our first half was very good. Everyone could see that. That felt good for us”, it sounded in conversation with the UEFA. “Unfortunately, our second half was a lot less. Maybe it had to do with the fact that we fell too far back. That can happen. We have to work hard in the second game, it is not over yet,” said the hopeful PSG defender.