PSG crushes Manchester City 4-2 but Luis Enrique slams alarming second-half display

Paris Saint-Germain overturned Manchester City 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening in the UEFA Champions League league phase. A prestigious victory, but one that Luis Enrique welcomed with very measured satisfaction.

The first half had all the hallmarks of a masterclass. Driven by intense pressing and clinical efficiency, the Parisians suffocated City, who came into the match on seven consecutive wins across all competitions since their Community Shield defeat. Result: a three-goal advantage at half-time that seemed to have settled the affair.

But the second half changed everything. Manchester City raised their intensity, tightened their passing and exploited a passive PSG block to pull back to 4-2. A reaction that did not escape Luis Enrique’s notice. “I don’t like leading 3-0 at half-time, because you think the match is won. And a match at this level is never won before the final whistle! We suffered a lot in the second half, they deserved to score. With a bit less luck, we could have lost,” said the Spanish manager.

Vitinha, speaking candidly to reporters, attempted to explain the lapse: “We’re playing away in a difficult stadium against a fantastic team, and it’s true that the reality is a bit what happens in the second half. It’s more real. What we managed to do in the first half was exceptional, we could even have scored more goals, but there we are, we also know how to support each other.”

On Manchester City’s side, manager Enzo Maresca preferred to focus on the positive signs from the second period. “To be honest, I think we’re there. I have the feeling we’re not far off. We struggled in the first half because we conceded two goals quickly. But in the second half, we created enough chances to deserve a better result. We can learn from this defeat and move forward,” he said.

PSG leaves Manchester with three valuable points, but Luis Enrique knows that defensive solidity in the second half will remain a priority before the next European fixtures.