Trainer Thomas Tuchel of Paris Saint-Germain praised his players on Wednesday evening after the hard-fought 1-0 victory over FC Metz. Thanks to a goal from Julian Draxler in injury time, the troubled Parisians booked the first win of the season.
Trainer Thomas Tuchel of Paris Saint-Germain praised his players on Wednesday evening after the hard-fought 1-0 win over FC Metz. Thanks to a goal from Julian Draxler in injury time, the troubled Parisians booked the first win of the season.
After narrow defeats against RC Lens (1-0) and Olympique Marseille (0-1), PSG were heading for a scoreless draw against Metz. The home team even played with nine men in the final phase – Abdou Diallo got his second yellow card and Juan Bernat was injured – but Draxler still headed in the 1-0 in extremis.
“With nine to eleven, this was an impressive and well-deserved end to a bizarre game. We have shown an incredible mentality. I am very proud of the team,” said a relieved Tuchel at the Parc des Princes.
Due to a series of corona infections, the German could not have access to many of his permanent staff in the first two games of the season. Although more players have already returned against Metz, Kylian Mbappé (corona), Neymar, Leandro Paredes and Layvin Kurzawa (all suspended), among others, did not participate on Wednesday-evening.
“We still missed a lot of players. Some guys I just have to use despite a training deficit, because I have no choice. It wasn’t as good as our performance against Marseille, but I thought we were strong. points to grab. That’s what counts, “said Tuchel.
Despite the hard-fought victory, PSG is in the lower regions of Ligue 1 with three points. The difference with leader Stade Rennes is four points.
View the results, the position and the program in the Ligue 1