Paris Saint-Germain secured a 1-0 win over Girona FC in the opening match of the UEFA Champions League. However, their finishing was an issue in the contest, and now one pundit has offered a bold take.
The Parisians recorded 26 total shots in the victory over the Spanish side, but the French giants narrowly secured the win thanks to an error from Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
With PSG struggling in the attack, RMC Sport pundit Daniel Riolo is taking a dig at those who believed that Bradley Barcola could replace Kylian Mbappé and be a marquee player on offense.
“Barcola is still quite young, and there really isn’t a proper striker in the team,” Riolo said (h/t Le10Sport). “The plan this summer was straightforward; they didn’t want to bring in stars or strengthen the squad with established players because Luis Enrique is looking to develop this group over two years.
“We saw a lot of weaknesses in the first Champions League match. Since the season started, I’ve heard plenty of shows, observers, and fans saying that Mbappé leaving is the biggest news because it was such a contentious situation. After that dramatic breakup, I think people are frustrated with Mbappé. But I really don’t get how anyone can say he’s suddenly a bad player.
“Sure, he missed the Euros and had a rough few months, but a player of his caliber is no longer at PSG. And Barcola will never fill Mbappé’s shoes. PSG hasn’t had any extraordinary players since he left, and they’ve had plenty over the last decade.”
Luis Enrique and his team will have another opportunity to show that Wednesday night was just a one-off and not a performance that will hinder the team. The next Champions League contest will be on Oct. 1 on the road when PSG travel to face Arsenal in a heavyweight contest, as the Gunners will be looking for three points.
