PSG need more time to reach the top in Europe

PARIS (Reuters) - Paris St Germain's then sports director Leonardo declared the club were ready for tougher competitions in Europe two years ago but Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final exit suggests PSG need more time to reach the top.





PSG were knocked out 5-1 on aggregate by Barcelona despite Zlatan Ibrahimovic and talismanic midfielder Marco Verratti returning to the Ligue 1 side from suspension but coach Laurent Blanc was not really shocked.

"Those who follow FC Barcelona know the patience required to win the Champions League. You need the means, but also some patience," Blanc said after the 2-0 defeat at the Nou Camp, which followed last week's 3-1 humbling at the Parc des Princes.

"The first qualified for the semi-finals are Barca and Bayern Munich. Paris will certainly be there one day but you have to understand we need time," he said after PSG's third successive quarter-final exit in the tournament.

Once again, Sweden striker Ibrahimovic failed to shine in a big game in which his attacking partner Edinson Cavani, despite his limitations, seemed more involved.

PSG saw off Chelsea in the previous round but that was more of a one-tie thing, with Thiago Silva and David Luiz scoring after Ibrahimovic had been sent off in the second leg.

Luiz was below-par in the last two games, being at fault on four of the five goals PSG conceded against Barca, but PSG's limitations are collective, conceded midfielder Blaise Matuidi.

"Barcelona are an institution, a club who have been at the top level for a long time, like Real Madrid or Bayern Munich," the France international said.

"We have been around for five years only."

PSG were bought in 2011 by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), who invested massively in the club hoping to win Europe's premium club competition.

While they never look threatened in the Group stage, PSG have been failing against top-notch opposition.

"Let's be realistic, they were better than us. They will probably win the Champions League," Ibrahimovic admitted.

"As far as we are concerned, it is not possible to reach that goal on short term. We have made several big steps and we were eliminated by a superb team.

"Let's not lie to ourselves, it's just reality."

PSG will now focus on winning the Ligue 1 title for the third consecutive season -- a goal more suited to their capacities -- with a possible treble on the cards as they won the League Cup and will play the French Cup final on May 30.

They are second in the standings behind Olympique Lyonnais on goal difference but have a game in hand.





(Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)


Share

3 min read

Published

Updated

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world