PSG’s boss praised Arsenal’s dominance following their defeat, while the club considered a €200 million bid for Barcelona’s rising star, Lamine Yamal.
PSG Boss Praises Arsenal’s Dominance After Defeat
Arsenal dominated the first half to take a 2-0 lead over PSG on Tuesday, then controlled the second half to secure the win.
Arsenal’s toughest home game of the new league phase looked challenging, but it turned out to be a relatively easy win.
The Gunners remain unbeaten in all competitions this season, and they’re growing used to hearing complaints from opposition managers after every game.
In the past week, Bolton manager Ian Evatt griped about not getting a penalty against Arsenal. At the same time, Steve Cooper protested a Gunners goal he thought should have been disallowed and called for a red card on Riccardo Calafiori.
However, PSG boss Luis Enrique was far more gracious in defeat, acknowledging that the home team simply outplayed them.
“Today, we were far away from the standards you need in this kind of match,” Enrique said. “Arsenal were much better in terms of pressure, intensity, they won every duel.
“It’s impossible to play for a positive result when you don’t win any of your duels on the pitch. Their defenders anticipated our attackers and our defenders didn’t anticipate their attackers. Arsenal were superior.
“This was our first big rival at a higher level. We knew from the first minute they would press us high, and they did it aggressively, and we couldn’t cope with that pressure.”
The statistics indicate that Arsenal effectively shut PSG down.
Adam Rae Voge notes that PSG’s xG of 0.31 was their lowest in the 69 Champions League games tracked by Opta.
The French team had scored in their last 51 Champions League group stage or league phase matches, but they could not generate enough chances to continue that streak at the Emirates Stadium.
In contrast, Arsenal capitalized on their opportunities and secured the victory.
PSG Planned a €200 Million Bid for Barcelona’s Star
Journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that Paris Saint-Germain once contemplated a huge bid of over €200 million for Barcelona’s emerging talent, Lamine Yamal.
This occurred in 2024 when PSG recognized that Kylian Mbappe had decided to join Real Madrid. PSG’s goal was evident: they aimed to make a record-breaking offer for Yamal, one of the brightest young talents in European football.
However, despite these internal talks, no official offer was made. Barcelona explicitly stated they were not interested in negotiating for Yamal, who was never up for transfer.
The club remained resolute, unwilling to consider even the possibility of a PSG bid. It wasn’t solely about the financial aspect; they highly regarded Yamal as a key component of their plans.
Yamal is happy at Barcelona
Yamal is pleased with Barcelona, and the club prioritizes his contract renewal.
Although he signed a contract lasting until 2026, his outstanding performances on the field have made Barcelona aware of the need to secure his long-term future promptly.
They recognize that his rising market value and the growing interest from top European clubs make it essential to reevaluate his contract.
Discussions for a new deal for Yamal are anticipated to occur before the end of 2024. However, these negotiations might be complicated by his swiftly increasing value in the football market.
Barcelona will need to present a substantially higher salary to ensure Yamal stays a vital part of their squad for the foreseeable future.
The club is committed to retaining him, but they understand that it will require considerable effort to fend off interest from other teams and secure his future.
Show Your Team Spirit! Get exclusive content and gear to back your favorite team.
Support Your Favorite Team