PSG, Qatar still can’t buy its way to European glory

Lionel Messi stood frozen, surprised within the Santiago Bernabéu.

His proper hand was on his hip. His left hand was holding his head. His eyes have been closed.

It appeared like he wished the sector to swallow him up.

Watching the celebrations was the very last thing Messi wished to do as Paris Saint-Germain capitulated to Actual Madrid.

Particularly given the best way Karim Benzema had simply accomplished a hat-trick in 17 minutes to shift the Champions League last-16 recreation in Madrid’s favor for the primary time.

It summed up PSG’s implosion that the winner got here straight from the kickoff after Benzema scored his second. PSG gave the ball away, gifting a fast dwelling assault that ended with Vinícius Júnior reducing into the penalty space, a feeble tried clearance from Marquinhos and Benzema flicking the ball into the underside nook.

“We paid dearly for our errors on the finish,” Marquinhos mentioned. “It’s powerful to elucidate.”

Very powerful to elucidate.

It appeared tougher to toss away a looming place within the quarterfinals when Kylian Mbappé had scored a memorable late winner within the first leg and produced one other second of magnificence — created by Neymar’s cross — to attain within the first half in Madrid.

The upstarts of European soccer have been nonetheless beating the kings of the continent 2-0 on mixture with a half hour to go.

“We have been satisfied we have been the higher aspect,” PSG sporting director Leonardo mentioned, “and that we have been going to undergo with a squad that might win the competitors.”

As an alternative, PSG conspired to get itself dumped out of the Champions League 3-2 on mixture by the file 13-time champions of Europe.

“The worst feeling is that we have been the higher aspect,” PSG supervisor Mauricio Pochettino mentioned. “However we misplaced the tie in 10 minutes.”

This isn’t why one of many best gamers of all time got here to PSG. Nor why a lot was invested in linking the 34-year-old genius up with Neymar and Mbappé.

The watch for a primary Champions League title goes on for PSG after 11 years of Qatari possession and greater than $1 billion in transfers.

Whichever managers come and go — and Pochettino can be preventing to stay in cost subsequent season — PSG too usually seems to be like a bunch of gamers masquerading as a workforce.

All the cash and expertise can’t obtain success the place it’s craved most. This was meant to be the season when every part got here collectively, with Messi arriving from Barcelona.

However nonetheless just one European remaining has been reached, shedding to Bayern Munich in 2020. Just one different semifinal has been contested, shedding to Manchester Metropolis final season.

No marvel there have been stories of PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi changing into heated within the search in charge the match officers after the newest exit.

There can be recriminations at PSG.

Successful the French title is the straightforward a part of the 12 months. Take away final season’s aberration when Lille was topped champion, PSG is now coasting to an eighth title in 9 seasons.

It is the European Cup which PSG’s management needs to parade in Paris — and Doha — for a membership the place amassing trophies can appear extra about projecting sporting energy for the Emir of Qatar than delivering for the Parc de Princes regulars.

“When issues occur, we have now to consider it and ponder why it occurred,” Leonardo mentioned. “However we’d like time for that.”

How a lot time will Leonardo or Pochettino get?

Somebody will take the blame.

Pochettino tried to shift duty onto the referee for not penalizing Benzema for a foul on goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma earlier than the primary objective that launched the comeback within the 61st minute.

“It’s unbelievable,” Pochettino mentioned, grumbling about VAR. “It’s unimaginable to simply accept as a result of it’s a transparent foul. I’m not complaining.”

Certain appeared like that.

“The following few weeks are usually not going to be straightforward,” Pochettino mentioned.

Will PSG settle for the justifications?

“It’s a giant blow,” Leonardo mentioned. “We’ve to simply accept our errors and our incapacity to deal with troublesome conditions. We misplaced and there are issues to analyse.”

Leonardo talked of needing to “discover options as rapidly as potential.” Marquinhos mirrored on the workforce being extra “mature in Europe subsequent season.”

However when a workforce can’t even elevate the European Cup with Messi, Neymar and Mbappé, then when will it?

Particularly when Mbappé is out of contract in three months after PSG rejected Madrid dangling greater than $150 million to signal him final 12 months.

It’s extra seemingly the subsequent time he performs within the Champions League it’s towards PSG — and perhaps for Madrid. How painful would that be for Messi to look at?