Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois had a very good game to keep the score goalless for a major period of the game before Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock in the injury-time.
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Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino “felt the result is a bit short” after the 1-0 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League last16, first leg fixture at Parc des Princes on Tuesday. PSG were clearly the dominant side as they attempted eight shots on target while the visitors failed to register even one. Real keeper Thibaut Courtois had a very good game to keep the score goalless for a major period of the game before Kylian Mbappe netted in the injury-time to break the deadlock.
FULL-TIME: @PSG_English 1-0 @realmadriden @KMbappe‘s outstanding late goal wins the game tonight! ???
An advantage to take to Madrid for the second leg. #UCL | #PSGRM pic.twitter.com/Zj5986fq7q
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) February 15, 2022
PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino gave his thoughts on the game in the post-match interview via MARCA. The head coach said: “I’m very happy for the players, who deserve it. I think the result is a bit short, but it gives us hope for Madrid knowing that it’s going to be very complicated.”
The PSG midfielders pressed higher up the pitch and their intense pressure was too hot for Real to handle, losing ball possession on multiple occasions and failing to keep hold of the ball.
“We cut the Madrid circuit with good pressure, their collective play with incredible players in midfield. We have recovered a lot in the opposite field to Madrid and we have forced them to play in the opposite field. We lacked perhaps a little aggressiveness in the last third. We have made a great effort and the commitment of the team is very good. We took risks but we were very vigilant.”’
“It’s PSG’s merit. This has happened to us at some point, for example against [Manchester] City. With the talent we have, we have also controlled the game.”
PSG will play the second leg in Madrid on March 9 and Pochettino is well aware of the fact that a one goal advantage is never too safe against the Los Blancos. The Parisians created a number of chances and could have easily scored two or three if not for the keeper. Lionel was denied from the penalty spot by Courtois.
The Argentine added “Coaches are optimistic by nature. You have to respect Madrid and there it will be a complicated game. I am also optimistic, but we cannot go down. This has to be the starting point. Hopefully we’ll show these kinds of performances, and you have to find that internal motivation to show more of that kind of performance.”
Mbappe dribbled past Lucas Vazquez and Eder Militao, dropped his shoulder and slotted through Courtois’ legs to break the resistance. It was a brilliant individual goal from the Frenchman.
The 49-year old said: “I have been saying that he (Mbappe) has an incredible maturity despite his youth and is one of the best in the world. I’ve been working with him for almost a year and a few months, and you see him every day, it’s a top [level].
