RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique urged his players to be more “attentive” to rapid attacks after failing to win two games in a row.
PSG salvaged a 2-2 draw at Rennes on Sunday thanks to two late goals from substitute Ferran Torres on his club debut. That draw followed a 1-0 defeat to Lens in the Trophée des Champions, the French Super Cup.
“(Transitional play) was one of our strengths over the past three seasons, being attentive to that,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said after the Rennes game. “There are certain positions where you need to be sure your position is covered by another player. If you’re a little bit distracted, you can have problems.”
Both Rennes goals were scored on quick breaks and PSG's transitional play was also exposed when Lens scored the week before.
With so many players involved in the World Cup, PSG's players barely had any preseason training before beating Aston Villa 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup on Aug. 12.
“I think it depends on the physical shape of the players,” Luis Enrique said, reflecting further on the Rennes goals.
Some PSG players looked a bit jaded against Rennes, with Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé — who starred for France at the World Cup — replaced at halftime.
PSG was already 2-0 down by then.
On the first Rennes goal, Sebastian Szymanski was left in far too much space on the edge of the penalty area following a quick break down the left. The second goal was scored by striker Esteban Lepaul, following a rapid break down the right which pulled PSG players out of position.
Rennes almost scored the winner with minutes remaining following another counterattack on the left, with PSG defender Willian Pacho clearing a header off the line.
“The counterattacks were not the only problem, it was also about the quality and speed of the Rennes forwards,” Luis Enrique said. “They were very dangerous and difficult to handle.”
PSG was meant to be at home but the game was switched to Rennes because of damage to PSG’s pitch following a brutal heatwave in Paris this summer.
Defending champion PSG will be away from home again when it takes on Lille on Friday.
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