Paris Saint-Germain crashed out of the Champions League again in disappointment after losing 3-2 at home in the first leg, leaving them struggling to turn things around when they return in the quarter-finals against Barcelona on Tuesday. At first, no one really expected this PSG side, rejuvenated after the departures of Lionel Messi and Neymar last year, to go on to win the Champions League this season. But the realization that Kylian Mbappe will not remain at the club beyond the end of this season’s contract has helped focus, with the superstar striker briefing the club on his plans following their last-16 win over Real Sociedad .

Next comes the draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals, which provides the Ligue 1 champions with a favorable route to the final.

Luis Enrique’s side struggled in the group stages but go into the first leg against Barcelona on a 27-game unbeaten run in five months and have no chance against Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Arsenal Confrontation. before the finals.

A win over a Barcelona team that is no longer an established powerhouse would set them up for a draw with Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals, which would be the kindest draw even if neither team should take it lightly.

However, PSG’s performance against Barcelona last Wednesday made it clear that Luis Enrique’s side are far from a complete team and their most important players are not at their best.

Mbappe has already scored 39 goals this season and will need to go all the way if the Parisians are to go all the way and win European football’s greatest prize for the first time, ending the France captain’s seven-year tenure at the club. He makes a difference in the game.

But he struggled in the first leg against Barcelona, ​​with PSG goals coming from Ousmane Dembélé and Vitinha while he struggled down the left.

This has raised questions about Luis Enrique’s handling of the 2018 World Cup-winning striker.

He has played just 90 minutes in seven Ligue 1 games since telling the club he planned to leave, with the coach regularly insisting he needs to prepare for a future without Mbappe.

Donnarumma expressed doubts

Looking further back, Gianluigi Donnarumma’s error-laden performance in the first leg was just the latest example of the Italian goalkeeper’s weaknesses being exposed at the highest level.

Donnarumma was also not helped by the defense up front, with Lucas Berardo – the 20-year-old Brazilian signed in the January transfer window – playing like a player who had never played at such a grand event. The same is true for young defenders in the Champions League. game.

Captain Marquinhos said after the Paris game, especially when talking about Barcelona’s first and third goals, captain Marquinhos said: “Small details make a difference, there were some in the second leg. This is unacceptable to us.”

“We have no choice. We have to go out there and win.”

Reaching the quarter-finals is about where PSG are currently, but it would be an underwhelming and missed opportunity for the end of the Mbappe era.

But that’s not to say they should give up hope – after all, it was under Luis Enrique that Barcelona beat PSG in the last 16 in 2017, despite losing 4-0 in the first leg.

Barcelona won the second game 6-1, although they had home advantage in the second game.

PSG, who did not play any domestic matches at the weekend, should also be stronger on Tuesday with right-back Achraf Hakimi, who has been very influential at right-back, returning from suspension.

Mbappe may also feel he has something to prove and if he performs well on the night, anything is possible.

“I have no doubt that we can turn things around and we will. That is my goal,” Luis Enrique said.

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