PSG manager Christophe Galtier has blamed PSG’s shocked 3-1 defeat to Lens on the poor and abysmal display put up by the players.
The Ligue 1 giant have been leveling their opponents, securing 14 wins and dropping only four points after 16 matches before the loss.
The hosts took an early lead after five minutes when a deflection from PSG keeper Gianluga Donnnarumma went to an unmarked Przemyslaw Frankowski, who volleyed the ball into the open net.
Hugo Ekitike equalised for PSG three minutes later when the striker reached a cross before Lens goalkeeper Brice Samba and tapped the ball in.
Lens striker Lois Openda restored his side’s lead in the 28th minute when he got a through ball from Seko Fofana and ran into the box, where he beat defender Marquinhos before finishing into the lower-right corner of the goal.
French forward Alexis Claude-Maurice made it three for Lens two minutes into the second half to seal the win.
Reacting to the defeat, PSG boss, Christophe Galtier slammed Kylian Mbpappe and others for the shock defeat.
Galtier lamented the lack of solidarity and open spaces that allowed Lens to effectively navigate, attack, and secure the three goals in the game.
Overall, Christophe Galtier complained about his players for playing out of the game plan and leaving enough room for Lens. He said he could not recognize his players, who fell prey to home side with short passes that played to the favor of the opponents.
“I struggled to recognize my team. We lacked solidarity and we got wiped out the more the game went on, leaving them far too much room,” Galtier said. “In fact, we did the opposite of what we should have. We struggled against Lens’ pressing, we should have played more long passes to make them defend deeper.
“Athletically, we were dominated.”
PSG missed two of their deadly attacking trio – Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi.
Both Kylian Mbappe and Neymar have returned to PSG after the World Cup break. Kylian Mbappe scored the winner for PSG on his return against Strasbourg, but was largely anonymous against Lens.
Neymar did not feature in the game after he bagged a red card in the game against Strasbourg.
Lionel Messi is yet to return to the team after the World Cup, and has been spotted continuing in his World Cup celebrations even after the resumption of Ligue 1.
Lens displayed another tactical masterclass to silence PSG and earned a deserved victory. They muffled up Mbappe and shrivelled up PSG attackers with their high press approach, leaving the visitors clueless from start.
PSG host Auxerre in their next French Ligue 1 game, while Lens travels to take on Strasbourg.
With the victory, Lens consolidated their second spot on the log with 40 points, 4 points behind PSG, who have 44 points.
Despite the loss, PSG are still unshaken in the title race. They hold a commanding four points gap on the top of the table and slipping to two consecutive league defeats is very unlikely.
Meanwhile , the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar will soon return to the team, and will offer enough leverage in the team’s attacking momentum going forward.
