“The title is in danger”, Rothen warned after the defeat against Rennes
The day after PSG’s defeat against Rennes (1-0), Jérôme Rothen shared his worries about the rest of the season for the Île-de-France club. In the show Rothen lights up RMC, the consultant sounded the alarm.
Two years after Lille’s crowning in Ligue 1, PSG still see their supremacy on the national stage challenged. Beaten by Rennes (0-1) this Sunday during matchday 19 of the season, the Ile-de-France club sees Lens and Olympique de Marseille hot on their heels in the league. Always at the top of the standings, the team coached by Christophe Galtier will have to remain serious given that the Champions League will soon return with the double confrontation against Bayern.
“Champion with more than 90 points? I think if PSG do the same second half of the season, they will be champions, estimated Jérôme Rothen this Monday on the show. Rothen lights up on RMC. But it’s more in the contents and what emerges in the teams that follow…”
>> Rennes-PSG (1-0)
Rothen seduced by Lens and OM
Without forgetting OM, who are just two points behind Lens, and therefore five behind PSG, Jérôme Rothen praised the northerners’ fabulous start to the league. First to bring Paris down this season, Franck Haise’s protégés made an impression during this big win in early January (3-1). Beyond efficiency, the blood and gold group exudes a certain collective strength. Ditto for the Phocians in recent weeks.
“We feel an alchemy in the Lens group or in the Marseille group, explained Dream Team member RMC Sport. I have often stressed the fact that Tudor had a hard time making interesting and positive things prevail in his group to be able to push the players to have lasting results. For the moment they are absolutely right. I congratulate them for that”.
>> All PSG matches in the Champions League, on RMC Sport
Faced with the form of their two main pursuers, PSG appear to be sticking out their tongues at the start of 2023.
“To speak of Paris Saint-Germain, yes, the title is in danger. They don’t release collective strength, analyzed the former midfielder of the Ile-de-France club and the Blues. And this for X time and not only from the second half after the World Cup.Even before there was a lot of success on results, on victories, with almost 100% efficiency on both surfaces.
Rothen hopes for the best for Messi and Neymar
To explain this collapse in Ligue 1, Jérôme Rothen has advanced physical conditions that are still insufficient for some players, especially in the offensive sector where the stars have returned late from the World Cup.
“This efficiency is less so because offensively the players aren’t at their best. Against Rennes, Kylian Mbappé was returning from vacation so logically he was a substitute, the RMC Sport consultant chained. He had to play twenty minutes and upon arrival he played a a little bit more because it was worrying.”
And to clarify the Neymar-Messi duo: “The level of Messi and Neymar in the Rennes match… It won’t necessarily be the same, and I hope so, in three weeks or a month. That’s why you need to be careful.”
Rothen: “Galtier isn’t completely right”
Aside from the (temporary?) poor form of some managers, Jérôme Rothen hasn’t been entirely convinced by some of Christophe Galtier’s tactical choices this season. Between switching to 4-3-3 or returning to a three-man defence, Paris are still looking for the right formula.
“It’s more in the collective, since the beginning of the season, that it has been difficult to find the right strategy on the side of Paris Saint-Germain. Against Rennes there is a three-man defense and this is still a bit in my throat. the regret of the former Italian international. From a tactical point of view, I think Christophe Galtier is not completely right. Above all, there are players who are unable to raise the level when things get difficult.”
Before concluding on the lack of results against the bulk of Ligue 1: “When I say the title may elude them it’s because when you see them play against Lens despite their reduced squad, they’ve been really pushed. Against Monaco, draw at Parc des Princes , they were pushed. The victory against Marseille, at the Parc des Princes, they were pushed. And behind it is the defeat in Rennes. The teams following Paris Saint-Germain, have not won once except against the trend positive against Marseille, worrying from the point of view of content against the big teams”.
