Football: Paris Saint-Germain beaten by Inter Milan in a friendly match, Neymar still on the bench


Paris Saint-Germain were beaten in two careless minutes by Inter Milan (2-1) on Tuesday in Tokyo and have still not won a single victory during their Asian tour or welcomed the return of Neymar, still remained on the bench. After the 0-0 against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr and the defeat against Cerezo Osaka (3-2), Luis Enrique’s construction site is not making much progress. The new coach has work in particular to adjust his defense, which let Sebastiano Esposito escape (81st) and left Stefano Sensi alone at the far post (83rd).

The Slovak Milan Skriniar, a major central hinge rookie, suffered in particular against the team he has just left after six seasons. The Spanish technician also has a job in attack, Vitinha’s superb strike under the bar (64th) does not mask the offensive desert, still dried up by the absence of Kylian Mbappé. The club are trying to sell their N.7, which they didn’t take to Asia because they refused to extend their contract and still don’t seem ready to leave PSG.

The Zaire-Emery duo, attractive Ugarte

Luis Enrique preferred to insist with Marco Asensio at the forefront, a role in which he is however not the most comfortable. The Spaniard once found the post (14th). Hugo Ekitike, however convincing against Cerezo Osaka (one goal, one assist), only entered for the last 20 minutes in place of Asensio. One of the rare satisfactions of the match remains the solid performance of the midfielder, duo of recovery Warren Zaire-Emery and Manuel Ugarte, and the second goal of the tour from Vitinha.

Author of some sharp climbs, Warren the 17-year-old “Titi” is among those who have played the most in Japan, he seems to have seduced Luis Enrique. At his side, the Uruguayan conscientiously harassed the interior circles. But the public at the National Stadium in Tokyo, better filled than that of Osaka for the two previous matches, would have liked to see Neymar.

Next game in two days in South Korea

At the start of the last quarter of an hour, the Olympic enclosure sang its name, which gives “Ney-ma-ru!” in Japanese, but nothing to do. The Brazilian, operated on his fragile right ankle in early March, has not played since February 19 and his injury against Lille. Each appearance of “Ney” on the big screens triggered a shiver in the spans, but the staff did not want to take any risks. The Brazilian had yet trained with the group the day before, in front of 2,000 enamored spectators.

The champions of France play again in two days, in South Korea, in Busan against Jeonbuk Motors, it is the last chance for the Asian supporters of PSG to see the last megastar of the club. Last year, Japanese fans were able to admire Lionel Messi, but he left for Miami, and Mbappé, but he is punished. PSG must rebuild without these two, and the work is colossal.





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