The Paris Saint-Germain qualification for the semifinals of the Champions League was marked by a period of significant tension, sparking the critical analysis of Emmanuel Petit. Although comfortably taking the 2-0 advantage from the first minutes of the game at Villa Park, the Parisian club quickly lost control of the match, granting three goals and facing a compromised situation. This loss of control, according to the former player, shows a loss of concentration and an overly confident attitude, manifesting itself by a reckless change of strategy and a little structured game.

The concern expressed by Emmanuel Petit goes beyond the mere observation of a missed match. He drew a parallel between this recent performance and the pruning eliminations of the PSG in previous editions of the Champions League, recalling the defeats against Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester United and Real Madrid. These past failures seem to haunt the club, resulting in psychological fragility and a lack of responsiveness to adverse pressure. Fear, according to the analyst, was palpable on the ground, hindering the players’ ability to display a necessary mastery and serenity.

Despite this dreadful experience, Paris Saint-Germain finally managed to qualify for the semifinals, where he will face the winner of the quarter final between Real Madrid and Arsenal. The return match, which will take place at Santiago Bernabéu, is expected to be crucial, and the Parisian club will have to learn the lessons from this meeting to approach the rest of the competition with greater strength and clarity, in order to avoid reviving such fears.