To win in Ligue 1, you still have to win at home: Paris SG, brilliant on the European scene, today hosts Saint-Etienne (1 p.m., Canal + Sport) at the Parc des Princes, where the team de Mauricio Pochettino has won only one of his last six official matches. Can do better !
The reigning French champion also remains on three defeats in a row in his stadium in L1 (Monaco, Nantes, Lille), his worst series since 2007.
“Difficult to understand”
Pochettino himself does not see many rational explanations for this bad series: “It is a good question. And it is a question which we must answer (Sunday)”, launched yesterday the trainer, always also little said at a press conference.
Last week, the Argentinian also said to see in this aspect an axis of improvement for the coming months: “It’s difficult to understand, but at the end of the season, it will be necessary to analyze if it was punctual or s ‘there is an explanation, especially if we continue to play without an audience. “
Anyway, “Poche” knows that PSG can come back very strongly in the title race if it beats Saint-Etienne at lunchtime: Paris (2nd, 66 pts) would then follow a length le Losc (1st, 70 pts), slowed down 1-1 on Friday by Montpellier at the opening of the weekend.
Navas package
Except that to face the Greens, Paris advances again diminished by absences.
Pochettino faces suspensions from Neymar, Leandro Paredes and Idrissa Gana Gueye for this meeting.
And the glitch of the essential goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who “remains in care for shoulder pain” according to the club and will give way in the Parisian cage to Sergio Rico, comes to furnish an infirmary where notably the defenders Abdou Diallo appear. (calf) and Marquinhos (thigh).
“We approach (these absences) with optimism, remaining positive,” said Pochettino. “These are difficult circumstances but we always keep confidence,” he added, while acknowledging having “still some doubts” about the eleven he will align against ASSE.
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