PSG-Milan: communion, Zaire-Emery XXL, tribute to Belmondo... Favorites and scratches from our special correspondents

At the Parc des Princes

FAVORITES

We must not trivialize the exceptional. We may be tempted to do it with Kylian Mbappé. But no. We always have the right to marvel at the exploits of the 24-year-old world champion. Perfectly launched by the excellent Warren Zaire-Emery, “KM” had fun with Tomori like one plays with a puppet before deceiving Mike Maignan with a gesture that he mastered to perfection, closed foot at the entrance to the surface, first post. No chance for the Blues goalkeeper, otherwise not inspired in this meeting. However, he could do nothing about this. Especially since Mbappé performs this sequence at great speed. A treat. As against Strasbourg on Saturday, the person concerned missed several opportunities to increase the score. Not perfect, but show.

He's only 17 and looks fifteen years older. An explosive maturity. “It’s not a question of age but of mentality,” corrects the person concerned. Indisputable holder in Luis Enrique's midfield, Titi shined on Wednesday evening with constant activity and two assists, a breakthrough to serve Mbappé on the opening score and a low cross from the right towards the left for the third goal, work of Kang-in Lee. Total commitment. Logically elected man of the match, he confirmed his rise in power under the eyes of Didier Deschamps, present at the Parc des Princes. At this rate, his presence in the French team will no longer surprise anyone. The only question is when: as soon as November or in March? PSG has a very big future.

Who says evening against AC Milan, says great evening atmosphere at the Parc des Princes. From this point of view, the meeting kept all its promises with a Parisian public loyal to the post and a turn at Auteuil which made noise. In addition to the unfailing support and total communion at the final whistle, the Collectif Ultras Paris also shone with the tribute paid to Jean-Paul Belmondo with a beautiful tifo. In a sequence that will delight Professional fans, “Bébel” was honored in the most beautiful way.

It has become a habit, but that doesn't stop us from emphasizing it: the players came to greet the supporters and even celebrate with them after the match. The kind of thing they carefully avoided doing in recent years... Nasser Al-Khelaïfi whistled the end of recess this summer. And Parisians comply with it with undisguised pleasure. "It's extraordinary. We do it at every match. Whether we win or lose, they are there to support us, to give their all during the matches,” underlines “WZE”, never the last when it comes to greeting the supporters and celebrating with them.

CLAW STRIKES

Last in the standings of Group F, silent for three matches, AC Milan, seven times winners of the Champions League, are in bad shape. Wednesday evening, the Milanese were logically swept away by PSG (3-0), without there being anything to complain about. Apart from Leao and an interesting first 20 minutes, the Lombards' offensive play was cataclysmic. “It’s clear that we don’t have a good position in this group,” says the Milanese coach, falsely optimistic in front of the media after the meeting. Clearly, we cannot expect good results from our opponents. Technically, we have to be more efficient and work a lot harder. We weren’t at their level.”

Also read “Why did you go to celebrate then”: when Mbappé room Dembélé (video)

Certainly, Randal Kolo Muani found the net. Not the hardest goal of his career, but you had to be there. Ousmane Dembélé was not so lucky. He scored well, but his goal was disallowed for a foul by Manuel Ugarte at the start of the action. Which also led to a tasty exchange with Mbappé at the end of the meeting... Still, the two French internationals have not yet found their cruising speed under their new colors. “RKM” is still struggling in this center-forward role, not having the technical background to play with his back to goal for example, while “Dembouz” is having the greatest difficulty being effective. For the moment, PSG is winning, so it’s not really visible. But when Mbappé is less inspired, it could be expensive... Kolo and Dembélé, can do better!

Present on Wednesday evening at the Parc des Princes as part of his consultant duties in Great Britain, Patrice Evra could have kept a low profile. But this is not in the habits of the former Marseillais, who also upset Paris SG during the elimination against Manchester United in 2019. At the PSG-Milan break, the ex-captain of the Blues signed a few autographs... just at the bottom of the Auteuil stand, which earned him insults and hostile chants, the flowery words of which we won't tell you. Rather than slipping gently through the passageways of the Parc des Princes, Evra sent kisses to the Parisian supporters. Roomer one day…